Citation

Taiminen TJ, Strandberg J, Kujari H. Arch. Suicide Res. 1996; 2(2): 119-124.

Affiliation

Taiminen, T.J., Department of Psychiatry, Turku University Central Hospital, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The suicide rate on a general hospital psychiatric ward taking care of highly suicidal patients was 3.2/1000 admissions over a 11-year period. This figure was lower than the suicide rate of a psychiatric hospital in the same city. Although the number of admissions increased during the period, concurrently a statistically significant decrease in suicide rate took place. The authors conclude that accretion of experience on the treatment of suicidal patients and application of adequate physical safety measures helped in suicide prevention on the ward. It seems that a voluntary general hospital psychiatric ward can safely take care of non-psychotic suicidal patients.