In-patient suicide--a 13-year assessment.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the suicide rates of psychiatric in-patients in the canton of Zurich for the period 1992-2004, and to determine putative risk factors.


METHODS
The data were derived from the psychiatric case register of the canton Zurich. The analyses were based on person-years calculations and standardised mortality ratios. Additional information was assessed via case records.


RESULTS
During the 13-year period the standardised mortality ratio was 48.9. The risk of suicide was particularly high in patients with personality and affective disorders. Most suicides occurred during regular leave periods, despite the fact that clinical assessment had indicated there was no suicide risk for the patient.


CONCLUSIONS
The suicide risk of in-patients is distinctly higher than in the general population. A better assessment of suicide risk before regular leave periods could lead to a decrease of suicides in in-patient settings, as well as a more rigorous treatment of borderline cases, and of affective and psychotic symptoms.
Ajdacic-Gross
V
V
Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. vajdacic@dgsp.uzh.ch
Lauber
C
C
Baumgartner
M
M
Malti
T
T
Rössler
W
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013557:Switzerland; D055815:Young Adult