Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Psikiyatri AD, ANKARA

Introduction: Suicide rates in geriatric population are much lower in Turkey than other countries. These patients may repress their suicidal thoughts due to sociocultural reasons and express them as wish to die. However, no studies investigating suicidal behaviour in geriatric patients with depression exist. This study aimed to examine the frequency of suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts as well as wish to die and associated factors in geriatric patients with depression. Materials and Method: This study included DSM-IV Major depression patients (n=130) who are 65 or older. Depression severity was evaluated by Geriatric Depression Scale. Suicidal behaviour was assessed by a questionnaire examining the presence of suicide attempts, suicide thoughts and wish to die. Associated factors like age, gender, education, marital status, living alone, income status and negative life events were also examined. Results: While the rates of sucidal thoughts and suicide attemps were low, 39% of the patients reported "wish to die". The patients who wish to die were less educated, more depressed and mostly women. Only depression severity predicted the presence of wish to die in regression analysis. Conclusion: Since "wish to die" was strongly correlated with severity of depression, it should be accepted as a symptom of depression and handled in treatment in elderly population.