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Differences between suicide attempters and nonattempters in depressed older patients: depression severity, white-matter lesions, and cognitive functioning.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Sachs-Ericsson, N; Hames, JL; Joiner, TE; Corsentino, E; Rushing, NC; Palmer, E; Gotlib, IH; Selby, EA; Zarit, S; Steffens, DC
Published in: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry
January 2014

OBJECTIVES: The population of older adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) has the highest rate of suicide. White-matter brain lesions (WML) are a potential biologic marker for suicidality in young and middle-aged adults and are correlated with cognitive impairment in older adults. In this study of older patients with MDD, we examined 1) if a history of suicide attempts was associated with a more severe course of MDD; 2) if WML are a biologic marker for suicide; and 3) if suicide attempt history is associated with cognitive impairment mediated by WML. SETTING: Data from the Neurocognitive Outcomes of Depression in the Elderly study. PARTICIPANTS: Depressed patients (60+) who had ever attempted suicide (n = 23) were compared with depressed patients (60+) who had not attempted suicide (n = 223). MEASUREMENTS: Baseline and follow-up assessments were obtained for depressive symptoms (every 3 months) and cognitive functioning (every 6 months) over 2 years. Three magnetic resonance imaging scans were conducted. RESULTS: At baseline, suicide attempters reported more severe past and present symptoms (e.g., depressive symptoms, current suicidal thoughts, psychotic symptoms, earlier age of onset, and more lifetime episodes) than nonattempters. Suicide attempters had more left WML at baseline, and suicide attempt history predicted a greater growth in both left and right WML. WML predicted cognitive decline; nonetheless, a history of suicide attempt was unrelated to cognitive functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Severity of depressive symptoms and WML are associated with suicide attempts in geriatric depressed patients. Suicide attempts predicted neurologic changes, which may contribute to poorer long-term outcomes in elder attempters.

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Published In

Am J Geriatr Psychiatry

DOI

EISSN

1545-7214

Publication Date

January 2014

Volume

22

Issue

1

Start / End Page

75 / 85

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • White Matter
  • Symptom Assessment
  • Suicide, Attempted
  • Suicidal Ideation
  • Neuroimaging
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Humans
  • Geriatrics
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Sachs-Ericsson, N., Hames, J. L., Joiner, T. E., Corsentino, E., Rushing, N. C., Palmer, E., … Steffens, D. C. (2014). Differences between suicide attempters and nonattempters in depressed older patients: depression severity, white-matter lesions, and cognitive functioning. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, 22(1), 75–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2013.01.063
Sachs-Ericsson, Natalie, Jennifer L. Hames, Thomas E. Joiner, Elizabeth Corsentino, Nicole C. Rushing, Emily Palmer, Ian H. Gotlib, Edward A. Selby, Steven Zarit, and David C. Steffens. “Differences between suicide attempters and nonattempters in depressed older patients: depression severity, white-matter lesions, and cognitive functioning.Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 22, no. 1 (January 2014): 75–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2013.01.063.
Sachs-Ericsson N, Hames JL, Joiner TE, Corsentino E, Rushing NC, Palmer E, et al. Differences between suicide attempters and nonattempters in depressed older patients: depression severity, white-matter lesions, and cognitive functioning. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2014 Jan;22(1):75–85.
Sachs-Ericsson, Natalie, et al. “Differences between suicide attempters and nonattempters in depressed older patients: depression severity, white-matter lesions, and cognitive functioning.Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, vol. 22, no. 1, Jan. 2014, pp. 75–85. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.jagp.2013.01.063.
Sachs-Ericsson N, Hames JL, Joiner TE, Corsentino E, Rushing NC, Palmer E, Gotlib IH, Selby EA, Zarit S, Steffens DC. Differences between suicide attempters and nonattempters in depressed older patients: depression severity, white-matter lesions, and cognitive functioning. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2014 Jan;22(1):75–85.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Geriatr Psychiatry

DOI

EISSN

1545-7214

Publication Date

January 2014

Volume

22

Issue

1

Start / End Page

75 / 85

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • White Matter
  • Symptom Assessment
  • Suicide, Attempted
  • Suicidal Ideation
  • Neuroimaging
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Humans
  • Geriatrics