Early suicide following discharge from a psychiatric hospital.
Social and clinical risk factors for completed suicide occurring shortly after discharge from a psychiatric hospital were examined in this case-control study. Seventy-seven individuals who received "suicide" or "undetermined death" verdicts at inquest, and who had been previously discharged from psychiatric hospitals in Bradford, U.K., were compared with a control group. A history of deliberate self-harm was significantly associated with early suicides compared with both late suicides and controls. A diagnosis of mood disorder, specifically depression, and longer case-notes were also significantly associated with early suicides compared to controls. This study has implications for risk management of recently discharged psychiatric patients.
McKenzie
W
W
Huddersfield National Health Service Trust, UK.
Wurr
C
C
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom