Suicidality in Middle Aged and Older Patients With Schizophrenia and Depressive Symptoms: Relationship to Functioning and Quality of Life

The hypotheses that middle aged & older patients with schizophrenia, depressive symptoms, & suicidality would exhibit worse quality of life & worse everyday functioning & that higher levels of suicidality would be significantly associated with worse functioning, worse quality of life, & older age were examined. 146 outpatients with schizophrenia & depression were included. Subjects with suicidality had lower Quality of Life Scale scores compared to those without suicidality. However, there were no differences between the two groups in performance-based skills, social skills performance, & the ability to manage medications. (22 refs.)