A Retrospective Study of General Hospital Patients Who Commit Suicide Shortly After Being Discharged From the Hospital
Dirk M. Dhossche, MD;
Asim Ulusarac, MD;
Wajiha Syed, MD
Arch Intern Med. 2001;161:991-994.
Objective To assess the scope of diagnostic screening for suicide prevention in
general hospital patients.
Methods Retrospective medical record review of general hospital patients who
committed suicide and matched-control subjects who did not commit suicide
shortly after being discharged from the hospital.
Results The suicide rate was 32 per 100 000 patient-years. Eight (73%)
of 11 patients who committed suicide were diagnosed with depression, substance
use disorder, or both at their last hospital admission compared with 11 (33%)
of the controls (P<.05). Only 1 of 44 patients
(both cases and controls) was referred for psychiatric consultation.
Conclusions The suicide rate in general hospital patients was almost 3-fold higher
than in the general population. Depression and/or substance use disorders
were risk factors for suicide. Screening for those disorders may be beneficial
for suicide prevention in the general hospital population, but will likely
benefit more patients who will not commit suicide.
From the Department of Psychiatry, University of South Alabama College
of Medicine, Mobile. Dr Dhossche is now with Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam,
the Netherlands.
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
Suicide Risk Increases After Medical Hospitalization
JWatch Psychiatry 2001;2001:7-7.
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