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Objective@#Contact frequency with adult children plays a critical role in late-life depression. However, evidence on possible moderators of this association remains limited. Moreover, considering alterations in contact modes after the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic, there is a need to investigate this association post-pandemic to develop effective therapeutic interventions. @*Methods@#This study included 7,573 older adults who completed the Living Profiles of the Older People Survey in Korea. Participants’ contact frequency and depressive symptoms were analyzed. Regression analysis was performed after adjusting for covariates. The moderating effects of variables were verified using a process macro. @*Results@#Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that infrequent face-to-face (odd ratio [OR]=1.86, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.55–2.22) and non-face-to-face contact (OR=1.23, 95% CI=1.04–1.45) in the non-cohabitating adult children group was associated with a higher risk of late-life depression compared to that in the frequent contact group. Linear regression analysis indicated consistent results for face-to-face and non-face-to-face contact (estimate=0.458, standard error [SE]=0.090, p<0.001 and estimate=0.236, SE= 0.074, p=0.001, respectively). Moderation analysis revealed that the association between late-life depression and frequency of face-toface contact was moderated by age, household income quartiles, number of chronic diseases, physical activity frequency, presence of spouse, nutritional status, and whether the effect of frequency of non-face-to-face contact on late-life depression was increased by participation in social activity, frequent physical activity, and good cognitive function (p for interaction<0.05). @*Conclusion@#Frequent contact with non-cohabitating children lowers the risk of depression later in life. Several variables were identified as significant moderators of contact frequency and depression symptoms.
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Objective@#We aimed to present the study design and baseline cross-sectional participant characteristics of biobank innovations for chronic cerebrovascular disease with Alzheimer’s disease study (BICWALZS) participants. @*Methods@#A total of 1,013 participants were enrolled in BICWALZS from October 2016 to December 2020. All participants underwent clinical assessments, basic blood tests, and standardized neuropsychological tests (n=1,013). We performed brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, n=817), brain amyloid positron emission tomography (PET, n=713), single nucleotide polymorphism microarray chip (K-Chip, n=949), locomotor activity assessment (actigraphy, n=200), and patient-derived dermal fibroblast sampling (n=175) on a subset of participants. @*Results@#The mean age was 72.8 years, and 658 (65.0%) were females. Based on clinical assessments, total of 168, 534, 211, 80, and 20 had subjective cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer’s dementia, vascular dementia, and other types of dementia or not otherwise specified, respectively. Based on neuroimaging biomarkers and cognition, 199, 159, 78, and 204 were cognitively normal (CN), Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related cognitive impairment, vascular cognitive impairment, and not otherwise specified due to mixed pathology (NOS). Each group exhibited many differences in various clinical, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging results at baseline. Baseline characteristics of BICWALZS participants in the MCI, AD, and vascular dementia groups were generally acceptable and consistent with 26 worldwide dementia cohorts and another independent AD cohort in Korea. @*Conclusion@#The BICWALZS is a prospective and longitudinal study assessing various clinical and biomarker characteristics in older adults with cognitive complaints. Details of the recruitment process, methodology, and baseline assessment results are described in this paper.
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Objectives@#This study determines the effects of comorbidity of mood disorder and alcohol use disorder on suicide behavior. @*Methods@#We converted data from the electronic medical records of one university hospital into a common data model and utilized it in our analysis. We selected 9551 patients with diagnosis codes of mood disorders or alcohol use disorders and divided them into three groups: mood disorder (MD) only, alcohol use disorder (AUD) only, and comorbidity of mood disorder and alcohol use disorder (MD+AUD). The mood disorder group was also subgrouped with depressive (DD) or bipolar affective disorder (BD) groups, and the comorbidity group was classified in the same way. Then, we applied logistic regression analysis to assess the risk of suicide attempts between the diagnostic groups. Subgroup analysis according to age also was conducted. @*Results@#The MD+AUD group had 2.7 (odd ratio [OR]=2.70, 95% confidence intervals [CI]=1.91– 3.81, p<0.0001) and the DD+AUD group had 2.78 (OR=2.78, 95% CI=1.95–3.98, p<0.0001) times higher risk of suicide attempts than the MD only and DD only group, respectively. Furthermore, according to the age subgroup, the risk of suicide attempts was the highest (OR=5.17, 95% CI=2.35–11.40, p<0.0001) in the DD+AUD group for those aged 40–59. There were no significant results in BD. @*Conclusion@#The results showed that the comorbidity of mood disorder and alcohol use disorder could increase suicide risk. This study suggested that alcohol use behavior needs to be assessed as well as mood symptoms for suicide prevention.
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Objectives@#This study determines the effects of comorbidity of mood disorder and alcohol use disorder on suicide behavior. @*Methods@#We converted data from the electronic medical records of one university hospital into a common data model and utilized it in our analysis. We selected 9551 patients with diagnosis codes of mood disorders or alcohol use disorders and divided them into three groups: mood disorder (MD) only, alcohol use disorder (AUD) only, and comorbidity of mood disorder and alcohol use disorder (MD+AUD). The mood disorder group was also subgrouped with depressive (DD) or bipolar affective disorder (BD) groups, and the comorbidity group was classified in the same way. Then, we applied logistic regression analysis to assess the risk of suicide attempts between the diagnostic groups. Subgroup analysis according to age also was conducted. @*Results@#The MD+AUD group had 2.7 (odd ratio [OR]=2.70, 95% confidence intervals [CI]=1.91– 3.81, p<0.0001) and the DD+AUD group had 2.78 (OR=2.78, 95% CI=1.95–3.98, p<0.0001) times higher risk of suicide attempts than the MD only and DD only group, respectively. Furthermore, according to the age subgroup, the risk of suicide attempts was the highest (OR=5.17, 95% CI=2.35–11.40, p<0.0001) in the DD+AUD group for those aged 40–59. There were no significant results in BD. @*Conclusion@#The results showed that the comorbidity of mood disorder and alcohol use disorder could increase suicide risk. This study suggested that alcohol use behavior needs to be assessed as well as mood symptoms for suicide prevention.
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Objective@#Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has contributed to increase in the remission rate for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, current rTMS treatment is practically inconvenient because it requires daily treatment sessions for several weeks. Accelerated rTMS treatment is as efficient and safe for MDD patients as conventional rTMS. @*Methods@#Fifty-one patients with MDD participated in this study; they were randomized into accelerated rTMS (n = 21), conventional rTMS (n = 22), and sham-treatment (n = 8) groups. The accelerated and conventional rTMS groups received 15 sessions for 3 days and 3 weeks, respectively. The sham-treatment group received 15 sham rTMS sessions for 3 days. Primary outcome was assessed using self-report and clinician-rated Korean Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (KQIDS-SR and KQIDS-C, respectively). Adverse effects were monitored using the Frequency, Intensity, and Burden of Side Effects Rating scale. Changes in depressive symptoms were compared among the three groups using mixed model analyses. @*Results@#For the KQIDS-SR score, there was a significant main effect of “time” (F3,47 = 11.05, p < 0.001), but no effect of “group” (F2,47 = 2.04, p = 0.142), and a trend-level interaction effect of “group × time” (F6,47 = 2.26, p = 0.053). Improvement in depressive symptoms, based on the KQIDS-SR score 3 weeks after treatment, was more prominent in the accelerated rTMS group than in the sham-treatment group (p = 0.011). Tolerability was comparable among the three groups. @*Conclusion@#The accelerated rTMS treatment group showed rapid improvement of depressive symptoms compared with the sham-treatment and conventional rTMS treatment groups. Therefore, accelerated rTMS treatment could be a viable option for MDD, with improved accessibility.
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Methods@#Using a common data model of electronic medical records at a university medical center in South Korea, the study populations were extracted if the depressive patients were treated either with antidepressants only or along with antipsychotics. The suicidal risks were compared with the Kaplan-Meier plot and log-rank test, and the risk factors were accessed using the Cox proportional hazard model. @*Results@#All demographic characteristics were similar in the monotherapy group taking only antidepressants and the combination therapy group taking antipsychotics with antidepressants, except for the smoking characteristic (p=0.023). The combination therapy group showed a lower suicidal risk [hazard ratio=0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.282–1.190] compared to the monotherapy group, which was not significant (p=0.138). @*Conclusion@#The combination therapy had no beneficial effects on reducing the suicidal risk in patients with depressive symptoms. This study is meaningful in that it is the first attempt to explore a psychiatric behavior/symptom using real-world data based on a common data model of general electronic medical records as well as narrative textual data.
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Objective@#Early detection and proper management of mental illness can help to prevent severe deterioration. However, with limited financial and human resources of community mental health services, it is not practical to carry out all conventional screening tools simultaneously. In this study, we aimed to develop and validate a brief but comprehensive screening questionnaire for four common mental illnesses of the elderly. @*Methods@#The brief screening for four mental illnesses of elderly (BS4MI-elderly) is a 14-item binary response questionnaire that covers dementia, depressive disorder, sleep disorder, and hwa-byung. To test validity, we compared conventional scale scores for three groups of participants classified using the BS4MI-elderly. The sensitivity, specificity, predictive value of positive test, likelihood ratio of positive test and internal consistency of the BS4MI-elderly were assessed. Finally, a correlation analysis between the BS4MI-elderly and general mental health scales was conducted. @*Results@#A total of 254 participants aged over 65 years were recruited. The BS4MI-elderly showed moderate to high sensitivity for the test that distinguishes the normal group from the risk and disorder groups (dementia: 0.61, depressive disorder: 0.88, sleep disorder: 0.85, hwa-byung: 0.94) and high specificity for the test that distinguishes the disorder group from the normal and risk groups (dementia: 0.91, depressive disorder: 0.93, hwa-byung: 0.84, sleep disorder: 0.84). The BS4MI-elderly also exhibited good internal consistency and significant correlations with general mental health scales. @*Conclusion@#The BS4MI-elderly, a brief but comprehensive screening tool, could be a useful instrument for screening the elderly in community mental health services.
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OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of Internet of Things (IoT)-based behavioral intervention for reducing depressive symptom of older adults with major depressive disorder. METHODS: A 12-week randomized cross-over controlled study was conducted at community mental health center. We recruited 39 participants with major depressive disorder aged 60 years or older. As a multidomain intervention, four evidence-based therapeutic factors (physical activity, healthy diet, social activity, and emotional regulation) were approached. To maintain motivation of participants, we applied contingency management using IoT device based on operant conditioning theory. RESULTS: The primary outcome was change of depressive symptom measured by Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Mixed-effect model compared the effectiveness of intervention and usual care management (intervention by time and period interaction, p=0.017). And during the study period consisting of a total of visit 8, significant group difference was shown in post hoc test at visit 4 (MADRS score of intervention group : MADRS score of control group=7.7±3.4 : 21.1±11.5, p=0.008). CONCLUSION: Community-implementable IoT-based behavioral intervention resulted in greater reduction of depressive symptom of elderly with major depressive disorder.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Humans , Conditioning, Operant , Depression , Depressive Disorder, Major , Diet , Internet , Mental Health , MotivationABSTRACT
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Depression , Follow-Up Studies , Korea , Longitudinal Studies , Odds Ratio , Surveys and Questionnaires , Weights and MeasuresABSTRACT
The concept of cognitive frailty has recently been proposed by an International Consensus Group as the presence of physical frailty and cognitive impairment [defined using the Clinical Dementia Ratings (CDR)=0.5], without concurrent dementia. However, CDR is difficult to implement and not often available in epidemiologic studies or busy clinical settings, and an alternative to CDR is required. We suggest an alternative definition of cognitive frailty as: 1) physical frailty, 2) more than 1.5 standard deviation below the mean for age-, gender-, and education-adjusted norms on any cognitive function test (e.g., the Montreal Cognitive assessment test, the Alzheimer’s disease assessment scale-cognitive subscale, verbal learning test, Digit Span, Boston Naming Test, Trail Making Test, and Frontal Assessment Battery), and 3) no dependency in instrumental activities of daily living. The redefined criteria for cognitive frailty would be more feasible to implement and thus more applicable in epidemiologic studies and busy clinical settings.
Subject(s)
Activities of Daily Living , Cognition , Cognition Disorders , Consensus , Dementia , Epidemiologic Studies , Cognitive Dysfunction , Trail Making Test , Verbal LearningABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of usual care management (UCM) and a newly-developed lifestyle modification with contingency management (LMCM) for geriatric depressive symptoms in the community. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 93 older adults with major depressive disorder at community mental health centers. A 12 week multi-domain LMCM was developed by providing positive reinforcement using ‘gold medal stickers’ as a symbolic incentive to motivate their participation and adherence. Participants were allocated to LMCM (n=47) and UCM (n=46) groups. They were then subjected to the 12 week treatment. Effects of the two intervention methods on Geriatric Depression Scale were determined using mixed model analysis. RESULTS: Participants in the LMCM group had greater decline in GDS score per month than participants in the UCM group after adjusting for age, sex, years of education, living alone, and MMSE scores at baseline examination [coefficient for GDS score (95% CI): -1.08 (-1.51, -0.65), p < 0.001, reference: UCM group]. CONCLUSION: LMCM is safe and easy to use with a low cost. LMCM is suitable as psychosocial intervention for older adults with depressive symptoms in the community.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Humans , Community Mental Health Centers , Depression , Depressive Disorder, Major , Education , Life Style , Motivation , Numismatics , Reinforcement, PsychologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Motor, perceptual, and cognitive functions are known to affect driving competence. Subcortical ischemic changes on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can reflect reduction in cognitive and motor performance. However, few studies have reported the relationship between subcortical ischemic changes and driving competence of the elderly. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the association between subcortical ischemic changes on MRI and driving abilities of the elderly. METHODS: Participants (n=540) were drawn from a nationwide, multicenter, hospital-based, longitudinal cohort. Each participant underwent MRI scan and interview for driving capacity categorized into ‘now driving’ and ‘driving cessation (driven before, not driving now)’. Participants were divided into three groups (mild, n=389; moderate, n=116; and severe, n=35) depending on the degree of white matter hyperintensity (WMH) on MRI at baseline. Driving status was evaluated at follow-up. Statistical analyses were conducted using χ2 test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), structured equation model (SEM), and generalized estimating equation (GEE). RESULTS: In SEM, greater baseline degree of WMH was directly associated with driving cessation regardless of cognitive or motor dysfunction (β=-0.110, p < 0.001). In GEE models after controlling for age, sex, education, cognitive, and motor dysfunction, more severe change in the degree of WMH was associated with faster change from ‘now driving’ state to ‘driving cessation’ state over time in the elderly (β=-0.508, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In both cross-sectional and longitudinal results, the degree of subcortical ischemic change on MRI might predict driving cessation in the elderly.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Brain , Cognition , Cohort Studies , Education , Follow-Up Studies , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Mental Competency , White MatterABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of community-based Goal-Achieving program in geriatric depressive symptoms preliminarily. METHODS: We obtained data from elderly Korean subjects with major depressive disorder (n=51) aged 60 years or older at baseline, taking case management from community mental health center. Subjects were randomly assigned to intervention group (n=24) and control group (n=27). We investigated depressive symptoms through Short Form Geriatric Depression Scale-Korean version (SGDS-K) at baseline and every month for 3 months to all subjects. We tested interaction between group and time in SGDS-K score to evaluate the effect of program. And post hoc test examined between group differences of SGDS-K at each time points. RESULTS: In quadratic linear mixed effects model analysis, interaction between group and time was statistically significant (Total SGDS-K score : coefficient=0.29, p<0.001 ; SGDS-K dysphoria subscale : 0.18, p<0.001 ; SGDS-K hopelessness subscale : 0.05, p=0.089 ; SGDS-K cognitive impairment subscale : 0.06, p=0.003). And significant between group difference was shown in post hoc test at time points of third month (SGDS-K score of control group : SGDS-K score of intervention group=10.74±3.482 : 7.25±4.475, p=0.0184). CONCLUSION: These results may suggest that ‘Community-based the Goal-Achieving program’ has efficacy in reducing geriatric depressive symptoms.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Case Management , Cognition Disorders , Depression , Depressive Disorder, Major , Mental HealthABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between late-life depression and resilience in the Korean community-dwelling elderly with depression. METHODS: The subjects were 102 depressed elderly people who lived in Suwon and Gwangju, Korea. Each subject was administered the questionnaires regarding the socio-demographic characteristics, Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination for Dementia Screening (MMSE-DS), Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and Short Form Geriatric Depression Scale-Korean version (SGDS-K). RESULTS: In a cross-sectional aspect, BRS score were negatively correlated with SGDS-K score in the Pearson's correlation test (r=-0.301, p=0.002). After multivariable adjustments, linear mixed model analysis showed that subjects with baseline higher BRS score had significantly lesser SGDS-K score (β=-0.16, p=0.006). CONCLUSION: The level of resilience should be considered in predicting the change of depressive symptoms in the elderly.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Dementia , Depression , Korea , Mass ScreeningABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the association between alcohol use disorder and cognition in Korean community-dwelling elderly, especially the gender-specific difference. METHODS: Data obtained from 1,141 subjects (976 men and 165 women) aged above 60 years was analyzed from the Gwangju Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment Study. All subjects completed the study questionnaire including demographic characteristics, history of current and past illnesses, drug history, Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), and cut down, annoyed, guilty feelings, eye-opener (CAGE), Short Form of Geriatric Depression Scale-Korean version (SGDS-K). RESULTS: Of the 1,141 subjects (mean age 72.17±6.20, mean educational level 6.50±4.48), 267 demonstrated alcohol use disorder (23.40%) and 874 were non-alcohol use disorder (76.60%). The mean of K-MMSE for alcohol use disorder group was 23.23±4.99, and for non-alcohol use disorder group was 23.70±3.94. When alcohol use disorder is accompanying, the decrement of K-MMSE score was 3.07 for female, and 0.35 for male. And we confirmed the interactive effect on K-MMSE score between sex and alcohol use disorder after adjusting for age, education level, depression (F=5.798, p=0.016). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our study demonstrates an association between alcohol use disorder and cognitive impairment by gender in the elderly.
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Alcohols , Cognition , Dementia , Depression , Education , Cognitive DysfunctionABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine association of temporal discounting with well-being of Korean community-dwelling elderly. METHODS: The subjects of this research were 4,373 community-dwelling older persons without dementia. Each subject was administered the questionnaires regarding the socio-demographic characteristics, temporal discounting which was measured using standard questions in which participants were asked to choose between an immediate, smaller payment and a delayed, larger one. Outcome variable is Korean version of the World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5). Statistical analyses including the Pearson's correlation test and logistic regression were performed in this study. RESULTS: At baseline, temporal discounting was negatively associated with WHO-5 in the Pearson's correlation test (r=-0.04, p=0.006). In a adjusted model for confounding variables, temporal discounting was negatively associated with WHO-5 [odd ratio (95% confidence interval)=0.57 (0.35–0.92), p=0.021]. CONCLUSION: Elderly individual with a higher temporal discounting (which indicates impulsivity) may have a lower quality of life.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Dementia , Logistic Models , Quality of Life , World Health OrganizationABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify self-reported stressors in the Korean community-dwelling elderly and examine their effects on subjective well-being. METHODS: The subjects of this research were 1,010 elderly people who lived in Suwon, Korea. Each subject was administered the questionnaires regarding the socio-demographic characteristics, self-reported stressors, Concise Measure of Subjective Well-Being (COMOSWB) consisting of life satisfaction, positive emotion and negative emotion, Mini-Mental State Examination for dementia screening and Short Form Geriatric Depression Scale-Korean version. Statistical analyses including the Pearson's correlation test and multiple linear regressions were performed in this study. RESULTS: In our adjusted model for confounding variables, stress from physical problems (S-PP) (ss=-0.133, p<0.001), stress from loneliness or solitude (S-LS) (ss=-0.077, p=0.007), stress from family members (S-FM) (ss=-0.083, p=0.001) were negatively associated with the total score of COMOSWB. In subscale analyses of COMOSWB, we also found that S-PP (ss=-0.184, p<0.001), S-LS (ss=-0.077, p=0.014), stress from economic problems (ss=-0.072, p=0.021) were negatively associated with life satisfaction score. While S-PP (ss=-0.140, p<0.001) and S-FM (ss=-0.079, p=0.003) were negatively associated with positive emotion score, S-FM (ss=0.105, p=0.001) and stress from friends and neighbors (ss=0.072, p=0.016) were positively associated with negative emotion score. CONCLUSION: Stresses from physical problems, loneliness, and family members might be associated with subjective well-being in the elderly. While life satisfaction appears to be affected by one's perceived physical health status, loneliness, and economic conditions, positive and negative emotions appear to be affected by relationships with family members, friends, or neighbors.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Dementia , Depression , Friends , Korea , Linear Models , Loneliness , Mass Screening , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Beside pharmacological treatment, non-pharmacological interventions are a great deal of interest resides on ways that allow modulation of brain plasticity in the elderly. Music therapy is a potential non-pharmacological treatment for the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, but a few studies reported it to be helpful. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of structured musical intervention therapy in patient with cognitive decline. METHODS: The subjects of the study were a total of fifty elderly with cognitive decline (K-MMSE: 21+/-3.99, CDR: 0.80+/-0.38). The musical therapy was applied to the group twice a week, fifty minutes per session for eight weeks. The data were analyzed by using chi-square and paired t-test before and after musical intervention. RESULTS: The study showed a significant reduction in depression and anxiety after musical therapy measured with short form-GDS and BDI (p<0.001). Activities daily living (ADL) markedly improved after the all session of musical interventions (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Group music therapy is a safe and effective method for treating depression and anxiety, and also improving ADL in patients with cognitive decline.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Activities of Daily Living , Alzheimer Disease , Anxiety , Brain , Dementia , Depression , Cognitive Dysfunction , Music Therapy , Music , PlasticsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Head circumference (HC) has been reported to be an index of cognitive functioning in the elderly and in Alzheimer's patients. The object of the study is to find the relationship between HC and cognition. METHODS: A total of 7,603 subjects over 60 years of age were analyzed from preliminary data of Gwangju Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment Study. HC was manually measured and cognitive functioning was assessed by the Korean version of the Mini Mental State Examination (K-MMSE). RESULTS: Correlational analysis showed that HC was associated with age (r=-0.14, p<0.01), education (r=0.33, p<0.01), height (r=0.26, p<0.01), and K-MMSE (r=0.28, p<0.01). Also, even after adjusting for confounding variables (age, education, height, gender) the positive association between HC and K-MMSE score remained significant (beta=0.18, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that HC may play an important role in predicting cognitive impairment in the elderly.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Cognition , Dementia , Education , Head , Cognitive DysfunctionABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between suicidal ideation and the associated with sociodemographic and clinical factors in community dwelling, elderly living alone in Korea. METHODS: A total of the 329 community-dwelling elderly aged 65 years or older who lived alone were recruited and they underwent the questionnaire including their sociodemographic data, Activities of Daily Living/Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale (ADL/IADL) and the Korean version of the Short Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS-K). Suicidal ideation was evaluated by using the "suicidal thought" item of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). RESULTS: According to the result of our sample of elderly living alone, 22.8% of the subjects reported their suicidal ideation. ADL/IADL score (p<0.01), subjective economic status (p<0.05), and subjective health status (p<0.05) had a negative correlation with suicidal ideation. SGDS-K score (p<0.05) had positive correlations with suicidal ideation. Multiple regression analysis revealed that suicidal ideation correlates to ADL/IADL score (p=0.025). CONCLUSION: This study exhibit that ADL/IADL is significantly associated with suicidal ideation.