Citation

Jensen BF, Christiansen E. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 45.

Affiliation

Centre for Suicide Research, Sondergade 17, 5000 Odense C., Denmark. bj@selvmordsforskning.dk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16963915

Abstract

Introduction: The primary purpose of the study was to analyse risk for suicide attempts after discharge from psychiatric or somatic care. The literature provides us with evidence that risk for suicide is particularly high in the first weeks after discharge from psychiatric care, and risk is also high for individuals with certain physical illnesses. Methodology: The study is a Danish register-based nested case-control study. Risk was analysed by the use of conditional logistic regression. Participants: 3,037 cases from Register for Suicide Attempts and 60,295 individuals for comparison were identified and matched with gender and age. Retrospective personal data on psychiatric and somatic care was obtained from other registers. Results: A significant high peak in risk for suicide attempts was identified in the first weeks after discharge from psychiatric or somatic care. The risk was lowered as time passed. Suicide attempt risk was not equally distributed across various psychiatric and somatic diagnoses. Conclusion: In order to lower/reduce risk for suicide attempts we need to improve aftercare when discharging from psychiatric care. Individuals with co-morbidity of substance use disorder and other mental illnesses are at high risk and might need specialized ambulant treatment. Discharge from somatic care itself might increase risk.

Language: en