Screening for Suicide Ideation Among Older Primary Care Patients

This study assessed whether brief screens for depression have acceptable operating characteristics in identifying suicide ideation among older primary care patients & examined potential gender differences in the screen’s accuracy. The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale was administered to a cross-sectional cohort of 626 primary care patients, 65 years & older, in the northeastern United States. The presence of suicide ideation was assessed with items from the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression & the Structured Clinical Interview. The Geriatric Depressin Scale & the Geriatric Depression Scale-Suicide Ideation Subscale accurately identified older patients with suicide ideation. Research is needed to examine their acceptability & barriers to routine use in primary care.53 refs.)