@article{ref1,
title="Psychiatric inpatients' perceptions of written no-suicide agreements: an exploratory study",
journal="Suicide and life-threatening behavior",
year="2002",
author="Hays, Larry W. and Williams, Ivan S. and Davis, Steven E.",
volume="32",
number="1",
pages="51-66",
abstract="One hundred thirty-five psychiatric inpatients admitted for suicidal danger were surveyed regarding their views on the benefits/limitations of written no-suicide agreements. A survey instrument developed for this study revealed that these inpatients, for the most part, rated written no-suicide agreements in a positive manner and in ways consistent with clinical opinion expressed in a number of qualitative/expert-opinion articles. Positive views of no-suicide agreements were not materially influenced by social desirability or age, nor were they moderated by gender, presence/absence of Axis II disorders, or admission suicidal danger. However, patient suicide attempt history (no attempts, one attempt, or more than one attempt) exerted a moderating effect on patients' ratings of the helpfulness of these contracts. Multiple attempters viewed written no-suicide agreements as less helpful than those patients with a single or no prior attempts. The methodological problems and generalizability concerns associated with these results are discussed and future research needs are suggested.",
language="",
issn="0363-0234",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}