Repetitive suicidal crises: characteristics of repeating versus nonrepeating suicidal visitors to a psychiatric...

The present study involves a retrospective chart review of all patients who visited the Emergency Mental Health Service during the period of July 1, 1985 to June, 30, 1986 (total visits = 2,772). It compares those 'suicidal' patients seen only once during the index year with those seen multiple times (comparison of first visit only for both 'one-timers' and 'repeaters'). The 'repeaters' were generally found to be older and were more likely to have a diagnosis of schizophrenia and personality disorder. Unlike previous studies, substance abuse and affective disorder did not significantly differentiate the two groups. The 'repeaters' were also more likely to be taking antipsychotic and antiparkinson medications, have histories of past psychiatric hospitalizations in the public sector, be living alone, and most importantly, to have made a previous suicide attempt.