Predictors of suicide in psychiatric hospital.
OBJECTIVE
About 5% of all suicides occur in psychiatric hospitals. The aim of this study was to look for potential characteristics common to patients who committed suicide in psychiatric hospital.


METHODS
All patients who committed suicide in University Psychiatric Hospital in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in the period 1984-1993 were included. The suicidal patients (SP) with schizophrenia (SCH) and affective psychoses (AP) were compared to an age-, sex- and diagnosis-matched control group. Data from files and (in control patients) patient interviews were gathered. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used.


RESULTS
A total of 79 patients (34 males and 45 females) committed suicide. The majority of them had SCH (n = 36) and AP (n = 23). The predictors of suicide among patients with AP and SCH were depression and lack of insight and, in addition in patients with SCH, past suicidal behaviour and poor relationships with family members.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides the clinician with information on risk factors for in-patient suicide.
Steblaj
A
A
University Psychiatric Hospital, Ljubljana-Polje, Slovenia.
Tavcar
R
R
Dernovsek
M Z
MZ
D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*