TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2011//
TI  - Potentially lethal suicide attempts using sharp objects during psychotic illness
JO  - Crisis
A1  - Nielssen, Olav B.
A1  - Large, Matthew M.
SP  - 37
EP  - 42
VL  - 32
IS  - 1
N2  - Background: Recent studies have reported that serious violence toward self and others is more common in the first episode of psychosis than after treatment. Aims: To estimate the proportion of survivors of potentially lethal suicide attempts with sharp objects who have a diagnosis of psychotic illness, and the proportion of those patients who had never received treatment for psychosis with antipsychotic medication. Methods: An audit of the medical records of patients from three major teaching hospitals in Sydney, Australia, who survived a self inflicted stab wound to the abdomen, torso, or a laceration to the neck. Results: The files of 95 survivors of self-inflicted wounds by cutting or stabbing who met the inclusion criteria for the study were examined. A psychotic illness was diagnosed in 46 cases (48%), of which 26 (57%) had never received treatment with antipsychotic medication and, hence, were in the first episode of psychosis. Conclusions: Psychosis is strongly associated with potentially lethal suicide attempts using sharp objects and patients who have never received treatment for psychosis appear to be at particular risk.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0227-5910
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000058
ID  - ref1
ER  -