OBJECTIVES: to identify factors associated with admission after suicide spectrum behaviors.
METHODS: Patient's characteristics, the nature of their suicidal behavior, admission rates between centres, and factors associated with admission have been examined in suicide spectrum presentations to emergency departments in three Spanish cities.
RESULTS: Intent of the suicidal behavior had the greatest impact on hospitalization. Older age, living alone, self-harm method not involving drug overdose, previous history of suicide spectrum behaviors and psychiatric diagnosis of schizophrenia, mood or personality disorder were independently associated with being admitted. There was a three-fold between-centre difference in the rate of hospitalization.
CONCLUSIONS: widespread differences in the rate of hospitalization were primarily accounted for by characteristics of the individual patients and their suicidal behavior.