Contacts to the health care system prior to suicide: a comprehensive analysis using registers for general and psychiatric hospital admissions, contacts to general practitioners and practising specialists and drug prescriptions

Author(s): Andersen, M., Rosholm, J. U., Gram, L. F.

Journal/Book: Acta Psychiat Scand. 2000; 102: 35 Norre Sogade, PO Box 2148, Dk-1016 Copenhagen, Denmark. Munksgaard Int Publ Ltd. 126-134.

Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe suicides' contacts with various parts of the health-care system. Method: Data on 472 people who committed suicide in a Danish County (Funen) in the period of April 1 1991 to December 31 1995 were searched in the Danish Psychiatric Central Register, the National Patient Register, the National Health Insurance and Odense Pharmacoepidemiologic Database. Results: In total, 97.5% of the suicides were recaptured in at feast one of these registers. Forty-two per cent had been hospitalized in psychiatric departments, Within the last month before death, 66% consulted a general practitioner, 13% and 7%, respectively, were discharged from a psychiatric hospital and general hospital. Conclusion: The registers used provided a comprehensive registry-based description of suicides' contacts with the health-care system. The most prominent features were the high prevalence of psychiatric morbidity and the high rate of contacts with GPs close to suicide.

Note: Article Andersen UA, Univ So Denmark, Inst Publ Hlth, Winslowpk 19, DK-5000 Odense C, DENMARK

Keyword(s): suicide; hospitals; psychiatric; mental disorders; family practice; office visits; prescriptions; drug; MENTAL-DISORDERS; SCHIZOPHRENIA; VICTIMS; RISK

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