title: Suicidal attempts among Emergency Department patients: one-year of clinical experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Suicidal ideation and attempts account for a significant number of Emergency Department visits and represent a major public and mental health problem. Suicide and suicide attempts are a major cause of death and morbidity worldwide.
  
  
  METHODS
  111 suicide attempters (81 F (73%), 30 M (27%)) were consequently recruited in the Emergency Department of the Santa Maria della Misericordia, Perugia, Italy between June 2011 and June 2012. Patients were assessed and demographic and clinical data were collected in clinical records. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used as appropriate. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Females attempt suicide 3 times more frequently than males and generally use a non-violent suicide attempt method. In our sample unmarried status is the most represented and the most common diagnosis is major depressive disorder, followed by borderline personality disorder. Suicide attempts are more frequent in January.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is of crucial importance to conduct a suicide risk assessment when subjects are admitted to an ED given that the strongest known predictor for future suicide is attempted suicide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. sandro.elisei@unipg.it
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elisei
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Verdolini
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anastasi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult