Nancy Meyfroidt1, Sabine Wyckaert2, Filip Bouckaert3, Martien Wampers4, Victor Mazereel5, Ronny Bruffaerts6. 1. AZ Jan Portaels, Vilvoorde, Belgium; Universitair Psychiatrisch Centrum, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: nancy.meyfroidt@upckuleuven.be. 2. Universitair Psychiatrisch Centrum, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: sabine.wyckaert@upckuleuven.be. 3. Universitair Psychiatrisch Centrum, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Center for Neuropsychiatry, Dept. Neurosciences, KU Leuven. Electronic address: filip.bouckaert@upckuleuven.be. 4. Universitair Psychiatrisch Centrum, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: martien.wampers@upckuleuven.be. 5. Universitair Psychiatrisch Centrum, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: victor.mazereel@upckuleuven.be. 6. Universitair Psychiatrisch Centrum, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Center for Public Health Psychiatry, Dep. Neurosciences, KU Leuven. Electronic address: ronny.bruffaerts@kuleuven.be.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital show an increased risk for suicide but specific risk factors are not well understood. METHODS: In this case-control study we describe suicides (n = 37) that took place during admission in a Flemish psychiatric teaching hospital between 2007 and 2015 and investigate predictive factors for suicide. RESULTS: Inpatient suicide is a rare condition (37 patients among 20,442 admission periods between 2007 and 2015). Most inpatients who completed suicide were diagnosed with a mood disorder (68%); 38% committed suicide in the first month of hospitalization and 19% in the first week following admission. The majority of suicides took place just before or during the weekend (57%), with hanging as the prominent method (41%). Multivariate analysis showed that hopelessness was the only significant risk factor for inpatient suicide. CONCLUSIONS: Inpatient suicide remains a very rare event in inpatient care. Enquiring and managing hopelessness is essential in inpatient treatment of psychiatric patients.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital show an increased risk for suicide but specific risk factors are not well understood. METHODS: In this case-control study we describe suicides (n = 37) that took place during admission in a Flemish psychiatric teaching hospital between 2007 and 2015 and investigate predictive factors for suicide. RESULTS: Inpatient suicide is a rare condition (37 patients among 20,442 admission periods between 2007 and 2015). Most inpatients who completed suicide were diagnosed with a mood disorder (68%); 38% committed suicide in the first month of hospitalization and 19% in the first week following admission. The majority of suicides took place just before or during the weekend (57%), with hanging as the prominent method (41%). Multivariate analysis showed that hopelessness was the only significant risk factor for inpatient suicide. CONCLUSIONS: Inpatient suicide remains a very rare event in inpatient care. Enquiring and managing hopelessness is essential in inpatient treatment of psychiatricpatients.