title: Exploration of the Association Between Physical Health and Suicidal Behavior in Psychiatric Outpatients in Rural America.
abstract: Evidence reveals a link between poor physical health and suicide. The physical health of rural, adult psychiatric outpatients with a history of suicide was examined.
  
  
  
  The medical records of 192 patients seen at a tertiary-level academic medical center were examined for demographics, psychiatric and medical history, and self-reported measures of depression, anxiety, childhood trauma, and health status.
  
  
  
  The 48 subjects who endorsed a history of suicide attempts evidenced more medical conditions than those who had not made a suicide attempt (t= 2.91,P= 0.005).
  
  
  
  The results support the hypothesis of increased health risks in patients with a history of suicide attempts and highlight the need for targeted health interventions.
authors.affiliation: From Methodist Family Health, Little Rock, and the Psychiatric Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock.
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Carbajal
authors.affiliation: From Methodist Family Health, Little Rock, and the Psychiatric Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock.
authors.forename: Nolan C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Kordsmeier
authors.affiliation: From Methodist Family Health, Little Rock, and the Psychiatric Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cáceda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology