Citation

Hintikka J, Viinamäki H. Nord. J. Psychiatry 1998; 52(1): 15-21.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/080394898422526

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Five suicides committed within a day of discharge from a psychiatric hospital between 1991 and 1994 in the province of Kuopio, Finland, are described. The suicides occurred when psychiatric services in the region were being reorganized and when there also was great pressure for reductions in the number of psychiatric beds and for changes in the nature of psychiatric inpatient treatment. Common to all cases was a possible neglect of individual clinical assessment and consequent underestimation of the severity of the patients' symptoms. The case histories also suggest that internal and external pressures on treatment communities and staff can result in problems relating to basic clinical tasks. Careful individual examination and appropriate treatment based on the results of such examination continue to be of the utmost importance in preventing suicides among psychiatric patients.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; article; clinical article; disease severity; female; finland; health care quality; hospital management; hospitalization; human; male; mental health service; mental hospital; Patient discharge; Psychiatric hospital; psychologic assessment; risk factor; socioeconomics; suicide; Suicide