TY - JOUR
T1 - Factors of suicide ideation and their relation to clinical and other indicators in older adults
AU - Witte, Tracy K.
AU - Joiner, Thomas E.
AU - Brown, Gregory K.
AU - Beck, Aaron T.
AU - Beckman, Anthony
AU - Duberstein, Paul
AU - Conwell, Yeates
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported, in part, by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health to Drs. Beck (P20 MH071905), Conwell (MH51201) and Duberstein (MH60285), and to Dr. Joiner from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.
PY - 2006/8
Y1 - 2006/8
N2 - Background: Research on the factor structures of the Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI; [Beck, A.T., Kovacs, M., Weissman, M., 1979. Assessment of suicidal intention: the Scale for Suicide Ideation. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 47, 343-352]) and the Modified Scale for Suicide Ideation (MSSI; [Miller, I.W., Norman. W.H., Bishop, S.B., and Dow, M.G., 1986. The modified scale for suicidal ideation: reliability and validity. J Consult Clin Psychol, 54, 724-725]) in younger adults have tended to yield two factor solutions. The purpose of the current study was to examine the factor structure of the SSI in an older population in order to determine whether the factor structure was similar and, if so, whether the factors related to other clinical and demographic correlates. Methods: 199 participants (M age 57, S.D.) were selected from a combined database of psychiatric outpatients and inpatients over the age of 49 currently experiencing suicidal ideation. Principal axis factoring was used in order to determine the factor structure of the SSI. In addition, we ran correlations and regression analyses to determine the relation of each factor with other clinical and demographic correlates. Results: Consistent with prediction, we found a two-factor solution. Also consistent with predictions, clinical and demographic correlates related differentially to each of the factors. Limitations: The relatively small sample size and the fact that our sample was predominantly Caucasian. Conclusion: The current study has provided data on the factor structure of the SSI in an older population, demonstrating that suicidal ideation in this group is similar to younger age groups.
AB - Background: Research on the factor structures of the Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI; [Beck, A.T., Kovacs, M., Weissman, M., 1979. Assessment of suicidal intention: the Scale for Suicide Ideation. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 47, 343-352]) and the Modified Scale for Suicide Ideation (MSSI; [Miller, I.W., Norman. W.H., Bishop, S.B., and Dow, M.G., 1986. The modified scale for suicidal ideation: reliability and validity. J Consult Clin Psychol, 54, 724-725]) in younger adults have tended to yield two factor solutions. The purpose of the current study was to examine the factor structure of the SSI in an older population in order to determine whether the factor structure was similar and, if so, whether the factors related to other clinical and demographic correlates. Methods: 199 participants (M age 57, S.D.) were selected from a combined database of psychiatric outpatients and inpatients over the age of 49 currently experiencing suicidal ideation. Principal axis factoring was used in order to determine the factor structure of the SSI. In addition, we ran correlations and regression analyses to determine the relation of each factor with other clinical and demographic correlates. Results: Consistent with prediction, we found a two-factor solution. Also consistent with predictions, clinical and demographic correlates related differentially to each of the factors. Limitations: The relatively small sample size and the fact that our sample was predominantly Caucasian. Conclusion: The current study has provided data on the factor structure of the SSI in an older population, demonstrating that suicidal ideation in this group is similar to younger age groups.
KW - Factor analysis
KW - Older adults
KW - Suicide
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33746227769&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33746227769&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2006.04.005
DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2006.04.005
M3 - Article
C2 - 16740318
AN - SCOPUS:33746227769
SN - 0165-0327
VL - 94
SP - 165
EP - 172
JO - Journal of Affective Disorders
JF - Journal of Affective Disorders
IS - 1-3
ER -