TABLE 3.
Condition (TSC vs CAU) by Time Interaction in Intent to Treat Analyses for 12-Month Follow-Upa
| Outcome | TSC Mean (SE) |
CAU Mean (SE) |
ß (SE) | p Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline (n = 190) | 12 months (n = 124) | Baseline (n = 179) | 12 months (n = 131) | |||
| GSIS total scoreb | 62.62 (3.12) | 57.51 (3.18) | 61.03 (3.22) | 55.59 (3.37) | −0.34 (1.60) | 0.83 |
| PHQ-9 total scorec | 8.67 (0.91) | 6.34 (0.90) | 8.28 (0.91) | 6.96 (0.94) | 1.01 (0.53) | 0.05 |
| GAD-7 total scored | 8.08 (1.02) | 6.56 (1.02) | 7.86 (1.04) | 7.58 (1.11) | 1.23 (0.55) | 0.03 |
| INQ – Belonginge | 5.27 (0.67) | 3.71 (0.69) | 5.00 (0.68) | 3.38 (0.69) | −0.06 (0.39) | 0.89 |
| INQ – Burdene | 1.65 (0.41) | 1.19 (0.41) | 1.43 (0.42) | 1.34 (0.42) | 0.38 (0.13) | <0.01 |
CAU: care as usual; GAD-7: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, 7-item anxiety symptom scale; GSIS: Geriatric Suicide Ideation Scale; INQ: Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire; PHQ-9: Patient Health Questionnaire, 9-item depression symptoms scale; SE: standard error; TSC: The Senior Connection intervention.
Statistics are provided for the condition by time interaction, which indicates the presence/absence of an effect of peer companionship on outcomes. Means (SE) are adjusted for covariates in the model. Parameter estimates and p values were derived from WGEE analyses with baseline covariates (total instrumental activities of daily living impairments at baseline, presence of suicide ideation on the PHQ-9 at baseline, level of perceived burden at baseline, and lifetime suicide attempt). The variables used to determine weights for the GEE model included: perception of being burden to others, suicide ideation in the past two weeks (thoughts of better off dead or harming oneself on the PHQ-9), number of IADL impairments, and four indicators of recent suicide ideation (active ideation, considering methods, expectancy of future attempt if circumstances worsen, and perception that lack of energy is preventing an attempt) at baseline.
The GSIS total score reflects overall suicidal ideation, with higher scores indicating more frequent and intense suicidal thoughts. Analyses (not shown) were rerun using observations that met the MAR assumption with 3-month and 6-month data in the missing model, reducing the GSIS sample size and yielding similar results.
PHQ-9 is a 9-item measure of depressive symptoms with a range of 0–27; higher total scores indicate greater depression.
GAD-7 is a 7-item measure of anxiety symptoms with a range of 0–21; higher total scores indicate greater anxiety.
The Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire subscales measure lack of belonging (INQ-Belonging) and the respondent's perception of being a burden on others (INQ-Burden). Higher scores indicate greater distress in each interpersonal domain.