Citation

Bostwick JM, Rackley SJ. Curr. Psychiatry Rep. 2007; 9(3): 242-246.

Affiliation

Mayo Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Bostwick.John@mayo.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

17521522

Abstract

Factors contributing to patients killing themselves while admitted to general hospital medical/surgical (med/surg) units have not been well described. These rare yet devastating suicides appear to have characteristics distinguishing them from suicides in psychiatric inpatients. This article emphasizes the importance of both agitation and readily available lethal means in suicides that are almost invariably impulsive. It also emphasizes how traditional risk factors such as past history of psychiatric illness, substance abuse, or suicidality typically are absent in this population, as are present depression and known suicidality. Caregivers seeking to prevent suicide in the med/surg environment therefore must appreciate the potential lethality of acute psychic and motoric agitation. Close surveillance of agitated patients, with interventions to calm them and secure their surroundings, will assure safety and save lives.

Language: en