The authors intensively studied 207 patients hospitalized because of
suicidal ideation, but not for recent suicide attempts, at the time of
admission. During a follow-up period of 5-10 years, 14 patients committed
suicide. Of all the data collected at the time of hospitalization, only the
Hopelessness Scale and the pessimism item of the Beck Depression Inventory
predicted the eventual suicides. A score of 10 or more on the Hopelessness
Scale correctly identified 91% of the eventual suicides. Taken in
conjunction with previous studies showing the relationship between
hopelessness and suicidal intent, these findings indicate the importance of
degree of hopelessness as an indicator of long-term suicidal risk in
hospitalized depressed patients.Abstract Teaser