title: Psychotic (delusional) major depression in the elderly and suicidal behaviour.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been established that depressed patients manifest a higher risk of committing suicide. The role of delusional experiences accompanying depressive symptomatology as a risk factor for suicidal behaviour has been investigated but the results are inconsistent.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, 40 elderly depressed inpatients with psychotic features (DSM-IV criteria) were compared to 64 elderly depressed patients without such features in terms of suicide attempts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of univariate and multivariate analyses were negative: Psychotic and nonpsychotic depressed patients did not differ with respect to attempted suicide.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study support the notion that psychotic features do not increase the risk for the elderly depressed patients to attempt suicide.
authors.affiliation: Athens University Medical School, Psychiatric Clinic, Eginition Hospital, 74, Vas. Sophias Avenue, 115 28 Athens, Greece. gnchrist@compulink.gr
authors.forename: Lefteris
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lykouras
authors.forename: Rossetos
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gournellis
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fortos
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oulis
authors.forename: George N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Christodoulou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*