One hundred in-patient suicides.
BACKGROUND
The study aimed to define the characteristics and assess the clinical predictability and possible prevention of psychiatric in-patient suicides.


METHODS
The coroner's files on all suicides in the Greater Montreal Region from 1 April 1986 to 31 March 1991 were examined. The medical records of each case of suspected in-patient suicide were then reviewed and rated for predictability and preventive measures taken.


RESULTS
A total of 3079 suicides were recorded over this five-year period (mean annual rate of 16.4 per 100,000 inhabitants). Of these, 104 (3.4%) involved hospital in-patients. Nearly half (48%) of these in-patient suicides occurred outside the hospital setting. The methods most frequently employed were hanging (36%) and jumping from high places (24%). Patients suffering from an affective disorder (45%) or schizophrenia (35%) comprised the majority of the sample. Suicides were significantly more predictable in general hospital psychiatric wards. Suicide prevention measures did not differ significantly across settings.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of in-patient suicides were not highly predictable. For highly predictable suicides, the results underline the importance of actively treating and protecting these patients.
Proulx
F
F
Hôpital Charles LeMoyne, Department of Psychiatry, University of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.
Lesage
A D
AD
Grunberg
F
F
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000092864:Suicide Prevention