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Depression and suicidal ideation among the geriatric population of Kashmir, India

Version 2 2024-06-04, 12:37
Version 1 2020-10-25, 17:59
journal contribution
posted on 2024-06-04, 12:37 authored by S Shoib, Shariful IslamShariful Islam, SMY Arafat, SA Hakak
Background: Depression is a common disorder that can lead to suicidal behaviours among the geriatric population. Aim: We aimed to assess depression, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation among the elderly population of Kashmir. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in three districts of Kashmir between June and August 2019. The sample consisted of 200 persons aged >65 years. Beck’s Depression Inventory, Beck’s Hopelessness Scale, and the Beck Suicide Ideation scale were used to determine depression, hopelessness, and suicide ideation. Pearson’s correlation was performed to assess the relationships between depression, hopelessness, and suicide. Results: The prevalence of severe depression with a score of ⩾31 on Beck’s Depression Inventory was 56% among the studied population. Most of these elderly were found to have moderate levels of suicidal ideation (62.5%) and hopelessness (61%). Depression had a positive correlation with suicidal ideation ( r = 0.35). Hopelessness and suicidal intent had a more significant positive correlation ( r = 0.54), as compared to depression and hopelessness ( r = 0.43). Conclusion: More than half of the older persons in Kashmir had depression with superimposed hopelessness which is an important risk factor of suicidal ideation.

History

Journal

International Journal of Social Psychiatry

Volume

67

Article number

ARTN 0020764020968592

Pagination

651-655

Location

England

ISSN

0020-7640

eISSN

1741-2854

Language

English

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Issue

6

Publisher

SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD