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A closer look at inpatient suicide
V Sharma1, E Persad, K Kueneman
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London Psychiatric Hospital, Canada.
Journal of Affective Disorders
|February 26, 1998
Summary
Inpatients with mood disorders, a family history of psychiatric issues, and prior suicide attempts faced higher suicide risks. A fluctuating clinical course was also noted in many patients prior to suicide.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Examined suicide risk factors among inpatients at an Ontario provincial psychiatric hospital.
- Focused on identifying key predictors of inpatient suicide.
- Utilized a case-control design to analyze risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify significant risk factors associated with suicide among psychiatric inpatients.
- To compare characteristics of patients who died by suicide with matched controls.
- To investigate diagnostic patterns and clinical course preceding suicide.
Main Methods:
- Compared 44 inpatients who died by suicide (1969-1995) with matched inpatient controls.
- Reviewed and confirmed diagnoses for all study participants.
- Matched cases and controls on sex, age, and admission date.
Main Results:
- Suicide victims were more likely to have mood disorders, a family history of psychiatric problems, documented suicide risk, and previous suicide attempts.
- Mood disorder was the most common diagnosis among suicide victims, contrary to previous reports.
- A significant proportion of patients (24) exhibited a rapidly fluctuating clinical course before suicide.
Conclusions:
- Mood disorders are a significant risk factor for inpatient suicide.
- The findings suggest a need to scrutinize the role of antidepressants in potentially inducing rapid cycling prior to suicide.
- Clinical course monitoring and risk assessment are crucial for preventing inpatient suicide.