A closer look at inpatient suicide

Author(s): Persad, E., Kueneman, K.

Journal/Book: J Affective Disord. 1998; 47: PO Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands. Elsevier Science BV. 123-129.

Abstract: Background: We examined the risk factors for suicide among inpatients in an Ontario provincial psychiatric hospital. Methods: Forty-four inpatients who had committed suicide during their hospital stay from 1969 to 1995 were compared with a group of inpatient controls matched for sex, age and date of admission. The diagnosis for each patient was reviewed by the authors. Results: Suicide victims were more likely to have had a mood disorder, family history of psychiatric problems, mention of suicide risk in chart notes and a previous suicide attempt. Two findings necessitated further scrutiny: The most common diagnosis among inpatients who committed suicide in this study was a mood disorder and not schizophrenia as previously reported. A large proportion of patients (24) had experienced a rapidly fluctuating clinical course prior to the time of suicide. Conclusions: The implications of these findings, including the possible role of antidepressants in the induction of cycling prior to suicide, are discussed.

Note: Article Sharma V, London Psychiat Hosp, Mood Disorders Unit, POB 2532, Stn A, London, ON N6A 4H1, CANADA

Keyword(s): suicide; mood disorders; mood cycling; inpatients; PSYCHIATRIC-INPATIENTS; DEPRESSION; MANIA

Zurück | Weiter