Management of suicide attempters: what are the routines and the costs?
The services offered to a consecutive series of 97 suicide attempters (36 men and 61 women) at a general hospital were registered by a participating observer. All but one case were subjected to psychiatric consultation for suicide risk assessment, but only 34% were evaluated by a psychiatric specialist. Fifty-seven percent were admitted to psychiatric inpatient care. The length of inpatient care varied, the average duration was 5 days for men and 14 days for women. Repeaters were admitted more often than nonrepeaters. The short-term compliance was satisfactory. The direct cost for management was evaluated based on the detailed quantification of care provided for each subject. The care at the hospital equalled 6.4% of the total budget for psychiatric inpatient care.
Runeson
B
B
Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Wasserman
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare / Q000191:economics; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002017:Budgets; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000191:economics*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000191:economics; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000191:economics; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D013548:Sweden