Cognitive performance in suicidal depressed elderly: preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
Deficits in executive functions may play an important role in late-life suicide; however the association is understudied. This study examined cognitive function in general and executive functioning specifically in depressed elderly with and without suicidal ideation and attempts.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
University-affiliated psychiatric hospital.


METHODS
We compared 32 suicidal depressed participants aged 60 and older with 32 non-suicidal depressed participants equated for age, education, and gender.


METHODS
We assessed global cognitive function and executive function with the Dementia Rating Scale (DRS) and the Executive Interview (EXIT25), respectively.


RESULTS
Suicidal and non-suicidal depressed groups were comparable in terms of severity of depression and burden of physical illness. Suicidal participants performed worse on the EXIT25, and on the DRS total scale, as well as on Memory and Attention subscales. The differences were not explained by the presence of dementia, substance use, medication exposure, or brain injury from suicide attempts.


CONCLUSIONS
Poor performance on tests of executive function, attention, and memory is associated with suicidal behavior in late-life depression.
Dombrovski
Alexandre Y
AY
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Butters
Meryl A
MA
Reynolds
Charles F
CF
Houck
Patricia R
PR
Clark
Luke
L
Mazumdar
Sati
S
Szanto
Katalin
K
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data