[Suicides in psychiatric in-patient treatment]

The aim of this study was to evaluate characteristics and predictors for in-patient suicides.

All in-patient suicides registered by the psychiatric basic documentation for the period 1989 - 1999 were described and analysed by the means of chi(2)-tests and multivariate logistic regression.

A total of 30 in-patient suicides were found among 39 372 cases, corresponding to a mean annual suicide rate of 76 per 100 000 admissions. All suicides were committed using violent methods and took place outside the hospital in more than 75 % of the cases. Nearly 85 % of the patients were on leave or an outing. According to the logistic regression the risk of hospital suicides is significantly increased for patients with schizophrenia, a higher cumulative length of stay and a previous suicide attempt, but not suicidality or suicide attempt before index admission.

Schizophrenic patients represent the high risk group for suicide in psychiatric hospital. An especially focussed prevention on this group could reduce in-patient suicide rates.