This study attempted to replicate a previously published finding that ruminative thinking was associated with melancholia & with psychosis. These associations were not found in the study group of adult psychiataric inpatients, age 50+. Ruminative thinking was not associated with suicidal ideation but was associated with greater somatic worry & with poorer functional status, although these associations were not independent of overall depressive severity. It is concluded that ruminative thinking is a meaningful & common clinical phenomenon among severely depressed older inpatients. (14 refs.)