Factors of Suicide Ideation and Their Relation to Clinical and Other Indicators in Older Adults

This study examined the factor structure of the Scale for Suicidal Ideation in an older population in order to determine whether the factor structure was similar &, if so, whether the factors related to other clinical & demographic correlates. 199 participants currently experiencing suicide ideation, mean age 57 years, were selected from a combined database of psychiatric out- & inpatients. Principal axis factoring was used in order to determine the factor structure. A two-factor solution was found. Clinical & demographic correlates related differentially to each of the factors. Results demonstrate suicide ideation in this group is similar to younger age groups. (34 refs.) JA