Citation

Dahle KP, Lohner JC, Konrad N. Int. J. Forensic Ment. Health 2005; 4(1): 53-62.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Simon Fraser University - Mental Health, Law and Policy Institute, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/14999013.2005.10471212

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Suicide is the leading cause of death in penal institutions, especially during the early stage of confinement. Effective suicide prevention thus requires early identification of at-risk inmates. The aim of this study was to assess a screening instrument developed in the Netherlands for early identification of potentially suicidal high-risk inmates. The screening instrument was retrospectively tested and further developed on the basis of 30 suicides that occurred between 1991-2000 at the pretrial detention center Berlin-Moabit and an equalsized control random sample. The screening instrument turned out to be sensitive. The initially high rate of false-positive classifications could be lowered by simplifying the instrument. © 2005 International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services.

Language: en