Passive and active suicidal ideation in Swedish 85-year-olds: Time trends 1986–2015

•Fewer 85-year-olds reported any passive/active suicidal ideation in 2008 and 2015 than in 1986, the decrease was driven by reductions in passive ideation.•Rates of any passive/active suicidal ideation remained stable from 2008 to 2015.•Social factors associated with any passive/active suicidal ideation in 85-year-olds differed in women and men. For women, feeling lonely was associated with any passive/active suicidal ideation, for men having no partner was associated with such ideation. Older adults have high suicide rates. We investigated potential time trends in the prevalence of passive and active suicidal ideation in 85-year-olds. Further, we examined factors associated with such ideation in this age group. Population-based samples of 85-year-olds were interviewed in 1986 (N = 347), 2008 (N = 426) and 2015 (N = 320). Past-month passive/active suicidal ideation was evaluated with the Paykel questions. Reporting any type of passive or active suicidal ideation was less common in 2008 (7.3%, p