Citation

Dezsö D, Konrad N, Seewald K, Opitz-Welke A. Front. Psychiatry 2018; 9: e665.

Affiliation

Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Frontiers Media)

DOI

10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00665

PMID

30618858

PMCID

PMC6297671

Abstract

In the present study, we examined the effects of implementing the suicide risk screening instrument SIRAS in a pre-trial detention facility for men in Berlin. Within a period of 3 months, all newly arriving prisoners were screened (n = 611) by social workers or prison officers. Cases of elevated suicide risk were immediately referred to a psychologist or medical staff the same day. Follow-up over a 6-month period showed that 14% of all incoming prisoners were classified as high-risk individuals. These individuals received significantly more psychological and psychiatric treatment and were significantly more likely to be accommodated in crisis intervention rooms and emergency community accommodation (shared prison cells). In addition, it was found that despite the increased amount of treatment in the high-risk group, the number of specific measures did not increase significantly compared to the pre-implementation phase (N = 1,510).

Language: en

Keywords

penal institution; pre-trial detention; prison suicide; suicide prevention; suicide screening