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Suicide evaluation in medical patients. A pilot study
1Department of Psychiatry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
General Hospital Psychiatry
|March 1, 1993
Summary
This study characterized patients evaluated for suicidality using a pilot questionnaire. Findings help improve data collection and inform strategies to reduce suicidal behavior in hospital settings.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Suicidality presents a significant challenge in general hospital settings.
- Accurate characterization of patients evaluated for suicidality is crucial for effective intervention.
- Existing data on suicidal patients in general hospitals may be incomplete.
Purpose of the Study:
- To pilot a questionnaire for characterizing patients evaluated for suicidality.
- To analyze demographic, medical, psychiatric, and suicidal variables in this patient group.
- To inform strategies for reducing suicidal impulses and enhancing data collection.
Main Methods:
- A pilot questionnaire was administered to general hospital psychiatrists.
- Twenty-seven patients evaluated for suicidality were studied over a 4-month period.
- Data collected included demographic, medical, psychiatric, and suicidal variables.
Main Results:
- Demographic, medical, psychiatric, and suicidal variables of 27 patients were characterized.
- Comparison was made with prior studies of medical patients who attempted or completed suicide.
- The study identified areas for improving the database on suicidality.
Conclusions:
- The pilot questionnaire provided a framework for characterizing patients evaluated for suicidality.
- Recommendations were discussed to reduce suicidal impulses.
- Improving the database is essential for better understanding and managing suicidality in hospitals.