Citation

Hübner-Liebermann B, Spiessl H, Cording C. Psychiatr. Prax. 2001; 28(7): 330-334.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Georg Thieme Verlag)

DOI

10.1055/s-2001-17775

PMID

11600959

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate characteristics and predictors for in-patient suicides.
METHOD: All in-patient suicides registered by the psychiatric basic documentation for the period 1989 - 1999 were described and analysed by the means of chi(2)-tests and multivariate logistic regression.
RESULTS: A total of 30 in-patient suicides were found among 39 372 cases, corresponding to a mean annual suicide rate of 76 per 100 000 admissions. All suicides were committed using violent methods and took place outside the hospital in more than 75 % of the cases. Nearly 85 % of the patients were on leave or an outing. According to the logistic regression the risk of hospital suicides is significantly increased for patients with schizophrenia, a higher cumulative length of stay and a previous suicide attempt, but not suicidality or suicide attempt before index admission.
CONCLUSION: Schizophrenic patients represent the high risk group for suicide in psychiatric hospital. An especially focussed prevention on this group could reduce in-patient suicide rates.

Language: de

Keywords

Adult; Cause of Death; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Germany; Hospitals, Psychiatric; Humans; Incidence; Inpatients; Length of Stay; Male; Mental Disorders; Regression Analysis; Risk Assessment; Suicide; Suicide Prevention