Postdischarge therapy of hospitalized adolescent suicide attempters

To assess the effect of discharge planning on posthospitalization therapy, the admitting physicians of all youths hospitalized for a suicide attempt were contacted by questionnaire or phone. Of the 80 attempters admitted during the 42-month study period, adequate information was available on 65 (81%). At discharge, 47 patients had discharge plans in the hospital record; of these, 18 (38%) received posthospitalization care. Nineteen patients had no discharge plans, and only one (6%) received therapy. No other differences were found between those patients receiving care and those not receiving care when gender, age, method of attempt, history of prior attempt(s), and length of hospital stay were examined. Effective discharge planning may have a major impact on posthospitalization therapy for adolescent suicide attempters.