Related Experiment Videos
Attempted suicide: a study of 133 cases in Jerusalem
R Z Fisch1, A Alexandrowitz, Y Kresch
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Clinic, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem.
The Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Suicide risk factors like male sex, age over 40, and prior psychiatric diagnosis are confirmed in Jerusalem. These factors are crucial for assessing suicide attempt danger in the local population.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Suicide and attempted suicide pose significant public health challenges globally and in Israel, where the annual suicide mortality rate is 13/100,000.
- Hospital emergency rooms frequently encounter cases of attempted suicide, highlighting the need for effective risk assessment tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the applicability of established suicide risk factors to the population of Jerusalem.
- To compare characteristics of patients who attempted suicide and were discharged from emergency care versus those requiring hospitalization.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study of 133 cases of attempted suicide in Jerusalem.
- Analysis of demographic and clinical data for patients discharged from emergency rooms (n=70) and those hospitalized (n=63).
- Comparison of attempted suicide patient groups with data from individuals who completed suicide.
Main Results:
- The study confirmed that known suicide risk factors, including male sex, age over 40, and a history of psychiatric diagnosis, are relevant in the Jerusalem population.
- These validated risk factors are essential for accurately assessing the immediate danger posed by a suicide attempt.
Conclusions:
- Established suicide risk factors are applicable to the Israeli population in Jerusalem.
- Clinical assessment of suicide attempts must incorporate these validated demographic and psychiatric indicators to inform risk stratification and intervention strategies.