title: Suicide attempts by jumping from a height: a consultation liaison experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this research was to study the demographic and clinical characteristics of a group of patients who attempted suicide by jumping from a height and sustained injuries that required hospitalisation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were patients who were admitted to a large tertiary hospital in Brisbane City following a suicide attempt. Patients received treatment-as-usual and their hospital files were audited retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient profile was of a 31-year-old single person with a diagnosis of either a psychotic illness or borderline personality disorder. Sixty percent had prior contact with a mental health service and nearly three-quarters had made a previous attempt. Eighty percent reported the attempt was impulsive and nearly three-quarters reported having suicidal intent. The majority of attempts were precipitated by interpersonal stressors. Spinal injuries were the most common result.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Practical implications include the role of interpersonal stressors as treatment targets. The impulsive nature of the attempt also raises the issue of physical barriers to deter suicide attempts by jumping from a height.
authors: Consultation Liaison Psychiatry Service, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Victoria_Gore-Jones@health.qld.gov.au
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Gore-Jones
authors: John
authors: J
authors: O'Callaghan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology*; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000209:etiology; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*