Determinants of psychiatric hospitalization after attempted suicide
Received 5 November 2005; accepted 20 March 2006.
Abstract
Objective
This study investigated the characteristics of suicide attempters referred to psychiatric hospitals and the factors affecting such referral.
Method
All 1198 consecutive suicide attempters treated in general hospital emergency rooms in Helsinki during a 12-month period were identified. Data on all health care contacts 1 year before the index attempt and on referrals to psychiatric hospitals after the attempt were gathered.
Results
We found that a quarter of patients were referred to psychiatric hospitals as inpatients after index suicide attempts. Factors predicting referral to psychiatric hospitals, compared to nonreferral, were older age, psychotic disorder, mood disorder, lack of alcohol consumption preceding the attempt, somatic illness, suicide attempt on a weekday, previous psychiatric treatment, psychiatric consultation and the hospital treating the suicide attempt.
Conclusion
Although the clinical characteristics of patients attempting suicide are a major determinant of whether they are subsequently referred to psychiatric hospitals, the treatment practices of emergency room hospitals also influence treatment decisions.
aDepartment of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, FIN-00300 Helsinki, Finland
bDepartment of Psychiatry, Jorvi Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Espoo, Finland
cDepartment of Psychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
Corresponding author. Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, FIN-00300 Helsinki, Finland. Tel.: +358 9 47448213; fax: +358 9 47448478.
ABSTRACT