Citation

Deisenhammer EA, DeCol C, Honeder M, Hinterhuber H, Fleischhacker WW. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 2000; 102(4): 290-294.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1034/j.1600-0447.2000.102004290.x

PMID

11089729

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: In-patient suicides continue to be a matter of concern in hospital psychiatry. In-patients at risk for suicide need to be identified.

METHOD: In-patient suicides in two psychiatric hospitals were assessed over a time-span of 8 years. Cases were detected by comparing police suicide data with the hospitals' admission and discharge records. Further information was then gathered from patients' records.

RESULTS: During the period under investigation 44 in-patients committed suicide, the majority of them being diagnosed with affective disorders (45.4%) or schizophrenia (27.3%). The most commonly used method was 'jumping in front of a vehicle' (34.1%); 79.5% were treated in an open ward at the time of their suicide, 15.9% in a locked unit. The majority of open ward suicides happened outside the hospital; 39.4% of patients had left the ward without giving notice.

CONCLUSION: Additional cautionary measures are warranted especially for patients in open wards.

Language: en

Keywords

Adult; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders/diagnosis/*rehabilitation; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Suicide, Attempted/*prevention & control/*psychology