title: Functional disability and death wishes in older Europeans: results from the EURODEP concerted action.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Physical illness has been shown to be a risk factor for suicidal behaviour in older adults. The association between functional disability and suicidal behaviour in older adults is less clear. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between functional disability and death wishes in late life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 11 population studies on depression in persons aged 65 and above were pooled, yielding a total of 15,890 respondents. Level of functional disability was trichotomised (no, intermediate, high). A person was considered to have death wishes if the death wish/suicidal ideation item of the EURO-D scale was endorsed. Odds ratios for death wishes associated with functional disability were calculated in a multilevel logistic regression model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 5 % of the men and 7 % of the women reported death wishes. Both intermediate (OR 1.89, 95 % CI 1.42; 2.52) and high functional disability (OR 3.22, 95 % CI 2.34; 4.42) were associated with death wishes. No sex differences could be shown. Results remained after adding depressive symptoms to the model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Functional disability was independently associated with death wishes in older adults. Results can help inform clinicians who care for older persons with functional impairment.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatric Epidemiology Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden, madeleine.mellqvist@neuro.gu.se.
authors.forename: Madeleine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mellqvist Fässberg
authors.forename: Svante
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Östling
authors.forename: Arjan W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Braam
authors.forename: Kristoffer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bäckman
authors.forename: John R M
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Copeland
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fichter
authors.forename: Sirkka-Liisa
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kivelä
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Lawlor
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lobo
authors.forename: Halggrimur
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Magnússon
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Prince
authors.forename: Friedel M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Reischies
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Turrina
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Ingmar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Skoog
authors.forename: Margda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waern
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001293:Attitude to Death; D003863:Depression; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D059020:Suicidal Ideation