Keywords
Suicide screening tool, older adults, risky alcohol use
Abstract
Alcohol misuse increases risk of suicidal behavior in older adults. TheDepressive Symptom Inventory-Suicidality Subscale (DSI-SS; Metalsky & Joiner,1997) and its relation to suicide attempt history was examined to see if it differedfor older adults as a function of their alcohol use. Structural equation modelingwas used in a sample (N= 1,061) of older adult outpatients to examine the scale’smeasurement invariance and population heterogeneity and its relation to suicideattempt history. Analyses supported the equivalence of the DSI-SS in risky andnonrisky drinkers. The DSI-SS significantly predicted past suicide attempts. Find-ings support the viability of the DSI-SS as suicide screening tool for older adults.
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Braithwaite, Scott R.; Ribeiro, Jessica D.; Peaff, Jon J.; and Joiner, Thomas E., "Examining a Brief Suicide Screening Tool in Older Adults Engaging in Risky Alcohol Use" (2012). Faculty Publications. 6007.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/6007
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
2012
Permanent URL
http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/8736
Publisher
The American Association of Suicidology
Language
English
College
Family, Home, and Social Sciences
Department
Psychology
