title: Preventing suicide among inpatients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Inpatient suicide comprises a proportionately small but clinically important fraction of suicide. This study is intended as a qualitative analysis of the comprehensive English literature, highlighting what is known and what can be done to prevent inpatient suicide.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic search was conducted on the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Web of Knowledge, and a personal database for articles on cohort series, preferably controlled, of inpatient suicide (not deliberate self-harm or attempted suicide, unless they also dealt specifically with suicide data).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A qualitative discussion is presented, based on the findings of the literature searched.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The bulk of inpatient suicides actually occur not on the ward but off premises, when the patient was on leave or had absconded. Peaks occur shortly after admission and discharge. It is possible to reduce suicide risk on the ward by having a safe environment, optimizing patient visibility, supervising patients appropriately, careful assessment, awareness of and respect for suicide risk, good teamwork and communication, and adequate clinical treatment.
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sakinofsky
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006749:Hospital Design and Construction; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D017751:Safety Management; D012931:Social Environment; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016312:Treatment Refusal; D000092864:Suicide Prevention