Hopelessness as a measure of suicidal intent in the depressed elderly
Abstract
Suicidal ideation in the elderly has been related to depression, changes in health, and anticipation of a limited future. The present study examined the Hopelessness Scale (HS) and its relation to these factors in a depressed geriatric population. A total of 120 elderly outpatients, who had applied to receive psychotherapy for depression, completed the HS, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), health ratings, and the Schedule for Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia (SADS) at intake. The HS was found to be internally consistent, and a principal components analysis revealed three distinct factors that were related to hope, feelings of giving up, and future planning. The HS, BDI, and health ratings were predictive of suicidal ideation as measured by specific items in the SADS. The relation among suicidal ideation hopelessness, depression, and health perceptions for the depressed aged are discussed.
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We chose hopelessness and optimism as key outcome measures due to their established links to suicidality; hopelessness has been associated with completed suicide, independent of severity of mood symptoms.
“We chose hopelessness and optimism as key outcome measures due to their established links to suicidality [10 -12]. Hopelessness has been associated with completed suicide, independent of severity of mood symptoms [46,47]”
From Feasibility and utility of positive psychology exercises for suicidal inpatients (2014) · cites this paper as [47]
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- Authors
- Hill, R. D., Gallagher, D., Thompson, L. W., & Ishida, T.
- ORCID
- Hill, Robert D.
- Venue
- Psychology and Aging
- Published
- 1988-09
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 230-232
- ISSN
- 0882-7974 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1498
- OpenAlex
- W2059171963
- Cited by
- 128
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 2.24
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychology and Aging (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH-37196, MH17621)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
- Keywords
- hopelessness, suicidal ideation, depression, older adults, geriatric depression, hopelessness scale, health perception, future planning, giving up, psychometric validation, suicide risk assessment
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Motivation, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Risk Factors, Suicide
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