Mental healthcare status and psychiatric diagnoses of train suicides.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study is to investigate mental healthcare status and psychiatric disorders in train suicides.


METHODS
Data of 4 published train suicide studies were combined with a study of 57 train suicides in The Netherlands.


RESULTS
53% of all train suicides received psychiatric care at the time of suicide, with 49% of them being inpatients. These values are higher than those found in general suicides. When compared to general suicides, functional non-affective psychoses are overrepresented by 25% vs 14%. The percentage of affective disorders approximates that of general suicides namely: 39% vs 42%. "Other diagnoses" are underrepresented by 23% vs 40%.


CONCLUSIONS
All psychiatric diagnoses were based on clinical data, which may not accurately reflect the patient's psychiatric condition at the time of suicide.


CONCLUSIONS
Train suicides receive mental healthcare more often than general suicides and are more often characterized by severe psychopathology. The study indicates that patients with affective and psychotic disorders in particular should be targeted in order to prevent train suicide.
van Houwelingen
Cornelis A J
CA
GGz Eindhoven, Eindhoven, The Netherlands. cajvhou@tiscali.nl
Kerkhof
Ad J F M
AJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011890:Railroads; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data