[Suicidal behaviour of elderly psychiatric inpatients--prevalence and risk factors].
OBJECTIVE
The study aimed at evaluating prevalence and risk factors of suicidal behaviour of elderly psychiatric inpatients based on the German psychiatric basic documentation system (DGPPN-BADO).


METHODS
A total of 5,356 elderly psychiatric inpatients (> 65 years) with 7,658 episodes of inpatient care in a psychiatric university hospital between 1996 and 2006 was included in the study. Besides descriptive analyses, univariate analyses and binary logistic regression analyses were performed.


RESULTS
Four inpatient suicides and 14 attempted suicides of twelve inpatients were recorded during the 11-year period. Three of the 4 inpatient suicides and 6 of the 12 inpatients attempting suicide during hospital stay had a diagnosis of depression. Furthermore, 280 suicides before admission were attempted by 262 patients. Regression analysis revealed life time suicide attempt, ICD-10 diagnosis F43, period of onset of present episode less than one week and ICD-10 diagnosis F32 / F33 as significant predictors of attempted suicide before admission. Suicidal thoughts without concomitant suicide attempt before admission were recorded for 389 admissions of 346 patients. According to regression analysis, risk of suicidal thoughts before admission is increased for patients with life time suicide attempt, ICD-10 diagnosis F43, ICD-10 diagnosis F32 / F33, ICD-10 diagnosis F30 / F31, greater number of hospital admissions, short cumulative length of stay and non-chronic course of disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Examination of risk faktors of suicidal behaviour within the framework of hospital admissions should not be restricted exclusively to period of hospital stay. Relevant risk factors can be found even before hospital stay and could be a cue for suicide prevention already in the forefront of admission.
Neuner
Tanja
T
Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie der Universität am Bezirksklinikum Regensburg, Regensburg. tanja.neuner@medbo.de
Schmid
Rita
R
Hübner-Liebermann
Bettina
B
Felber
Werner
W
Wolfersdorf
Manfred
M
Spiesl
Hermann
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D033182:Intention; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult; D000092864:Suicide Prevention