title: Does age moderate the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in middle-aged and older patients with schizophrenia and subthreshold depression?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Suicidal deaths in middle-aged and older individuals with schizophrenia are a public health concern. Depression and schizophrenia are major risk factors for suicide. However, it is unknown whether age moderates the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation in patients with schizophrenia and subthreshold depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Suicidal ideation was assessed with the InterSePT Scale for Suicidal Ideation and the Clinical Global Impression-Suicide Severity Scale in outpatients older than 39 years with schizophrenia and subthreshold depression (n = 213). Using linear regression, we examined whether depression (based on Calgary Depression Rating Scale scores), age, and "age by depressive symptoms" predicted suicidal ideation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Depressive symptoms predicted suicidal ideation. Neither age nor "depressive symptoms by age" predicted suicidal ideation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this population, age does not appear to moderate the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicidal behavior. Thus, assessing depressive symptoms as a risk factor is important at all ages in this population.
authors.affiliation: VA Pittsburgh Health Care System MIRECC and Behavioral Health Service, and Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA. Electronic address: kasckowjw@upmc.edu.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kasckow
authors.affiliation: VA San Diego Health Care System, and Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA.
authors.forename: Shahrokh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Golshan
authors.affiliation: VA San Diego Health Care System, and Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA.
authors.forename: Sidney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zisook
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D059020:Suicidal Ideation
keywords: Age; depression; moderation; schizophrenia; suicidal ideation