HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ALL ISSUES SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cook, J. M. Articles by Rabins, P. V. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cook, J. M. Articles by Rabins, P. V.

Suicidality in Older African Americans

Findings From the EPOCH Study

Received January 17, 2002; revised, accepted March 18, 2002. From the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (JMC,RT), the Philadelphia VA Medical Center (JMC,RT), the National Institute of Mental Health (JLP), and The Johns Hopkins University (BSB,PVR). Address correspondence to Dr. Cook, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, (116A), University and Woodland Aves., Philadelphia, PA 19104. e-mail: cook_j{at}mail.trc.upenn.edu

The authors examined the current frequency of suicidality and associated characteristics in a sample of 835 African-American older adult residents of six urban public housing developments who consented to participate in an intervention trial of mobile outreach. The frequency of passive and active suicidal ideation was 2.5% and 1.4%, respectively. Characteristics of individuals with both active and passive suicidality included elevated anxiety, social dysfunction, somatic symptoms, low social support, lack of a confidant, and low religiosity. Characteristics of those with passive, but not active, ideation also included older age, lower levels of education, elevated depressive symptoms, poorer cognitive functioning, and having recently discussed emotional problems with a healthcare provider. The characteristics of those reporting active, but not passive, ideation included having a history of mental health treatment and reporting no instrumental support. Multivariate analyses indicated that depression and religiosity were uniquely associated with passive suicidal ideation, and life satisfaction and religiosity were uniquely associated with active suicidal ideation. The authors discuss implications of these findings and offer suggestions for research and clinical practice.

Key Words: Minority Issues • Suicide • Depression

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. I. Cohen, Y. Colemon, R. Yaffee, and G. J. Casimir Racial Differences in Suicidality in an Older Urban Population Gerontologist, February 1, 2008; 48(1): 71 - 78. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. J. Kaslow, C. H. Jacobs, S. L. Young, and S. Cook Suicidal Behavior Among Low-Income African American Women: A Comparison of First-Time and Repeat Suicide Attempters Journal of Black Psychology, August 1, 2006; 32(3): 349 - 365. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. Dervic, M. A. Oquendo, M. F. Grunebaum, S. Ellis, A. K. Burke, and J. J. Mann Religious Affiliation and Suicide Attempt Am J Psychiatry, December 1, 2004; 161(12): 2303 - 2308. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Thompson, V. Henkel, J. C. Coyne, R. D. Goodwin, and K. Kroenke SUICIDAL IDEATION IN PRIMARY CARE: ASK A VAGUE QUESTION, GET A CONFUSING ANSWER * Response Psychosom Med, May 1, 2004; 66(3): 455 - 457. [Full Text] [PDF]