In this study of risk factors associated with late life suicidal ideation, 30 older psychiatric inpatients were interviewed using standardized instruments. Several aspects of a cognitive model of suicide were supported using partial correlation & regression analyses. First, patients who were more depressed & suicidal had more negative cognitions than those who were less depressed & not suicidal. Second, depressive symptoms were strongly related to suicidal thoughts even after controlling for the patients’ number of impaired illness systems. Third, cognitive factors versus health factors were shown to influence the relationship between depression & suicidal ideation. These findings emphasize the importance of cognitive biases in geriatric suicidal ideation. (60 refs.)