Citation

Maurice B, Unger PF, Zumbrunnen R, Morabia A. Reanimation Urgences 1992; 1(2): 259-262.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992)

DOI

10.1016/S1164-6756(05)80503-1

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Patients admitted for attempted suicide are usually managed by clinicians, such as internists or surgeons, rather than by psychiatrists. Howewer, clinicians are not trained to estimate the risk of the patient attempting suicide again in the future. In the present study we determined the extent to which clinicians and psychiatrists independently agree on the risk of future suicide attempts and whether the use of a risk-rating form modifies clinicians attitudes towards such patients. Between january and march 1990, all patients having attempted suicide were admitted to an emergency care unit and were successively seen by a clinician and a psychiatrist who determined the risk of relapse and suggested management for the patient. During the final six weeks of the study, clinicians were required to fell out a risk-rating form before deciding the risk of relapse. Agreement between clinicians and psychiatrists was poor regarding the risk of relapse, but good concerning management of the patients. Use of the risk-rating form did not modify clinicians opinions. We conclude that clinicians and psychiatrists agree on the way patients admitted for attempted suicide should be managed, even though they have divergent opinions as to the risk of future suicide attempts. © 1992 arnette S.A.

Language: fr

Keywords

evaluation; Attempted suicide; relapse; psychiatrists