Suicide, ethnicity and psychiatric in-patient care: A case-control study

Author(s): Johansson, S. E., Bergman, B., Sundquist, J.

Journal/Book: Arch Suicide Res. 1997; 3: Spuiboulevard 50, PO Box 17, 3300 AA Dordrecht, Netherlands. Kluwer Academic Publ. 253-269.

Abstract: This study compares patients with controls concerning sociodemographic variables and describes Swedish and foreign-born patients concerning psychiatric disorders, suicide risk, history of attempted suicide, suicide method, number of parasuicides and time from discharge to suicide. It is based on 59 psychiatric in-patients who had committed suicide, of whom 46 were native Swedes and 13 foreign-born, and on a random sample of 630 controls living in the same area of Stockholm, Sweden. There was an excess suicide risk for being foreign-born with a crude odds ratio of 1.94 (CI = 1.01 - 3.76) in an unconditional logistic regression. Zn the final model, single living, having a somatic disease and being unemployed were major risk factors for committing suicide. There were no differences between Swedes and those of foreign birth concerning distribution of certain background variables (i.e., suicide risk, diagnoses and quality of care assessed via clinical records). Only 39% of the patients were classified as high risk by the doctor-in-charge at admission. This is significantly lower (p<0.001) than the retrospectively rated risk. Planned aftercare was considered as satisfactory for about half of the patients. About two-thirds of the patients did not participate in aftercare or almost immediately discontinued the contact. More attention is necessary in order to motivate the patients to take part in aftercare and there is a need for better co-operation between hospital and out-patient clinics.

Note: Article Johansson LM, Emaljvagen 10, 8 TR, S-17673 Jarfalla, SWEDEN

Keyword(s): suicide; psychiatric in-patient care; ethnicity; LATIN-AMERICAN REFUGEES; RISK-FACTORS; FORENSIC DIAGNOSES; STOCKHOLM COUNTY; INPATIENTS; MORTALITY; SWEDEN; PREVENTION; POPULATION; DENMARK

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