[The increase in suicide in psychiatric hospitals. Facts, causes and prevention]

In the psychiatric clinics of five countries and in ours as well, suicides have significantly increased since the twenties, and many times more than in the general population. This trend is probably not due to change in the sociographic and diagnostic composition of admitted patients but to more liberal hospital treatment and more active rehabilitation. In order to prevent suicide in the clinic, it has to be kept in mind that what proves to be an asset for the great majority of patients may be detrimental for a minority.