Predictors of inpatient suicide in an Irish psychiatric service, a longitudinal case-control study.
Loading...
Authors
Hartnett, Yvonne
Thekiso, Thekiso B
Kowalska-Beda, Paulina
Maher, Tom
McLoughlin, Declan M
Kennedy, Noel
Issue Date
2024-03-22
Type
Journal Article
Language
en
Keywords
inpatient , psychiatry , suicide
Alternative Title
Abstract
Inpatient suicide remains difficult to predict. This study aimed to identify individual patient predictors to help identify those at greater risk.
This case-control study was undertaken in an independent mental health service in Ireland. Cases were drawn from all admissions to the service between March 2004 and February 2019. Controls were matched for date of admission. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted.
Thirty-three cases of inpatient suicide were compared to 132 controls. The inpatient suicide rate was 76.2 per 100,000 admissions. The rate of inpatient suicide fell in line with national rates despite less restrictive practices being implemented in the service. Males accounted for 66% of cases. Hanging was the most common method of suicide overall and among male patients, and drowning was the most common among females. Male gender, tertiary referral, an adverse psychosocial event during admission, a period of absence without leave and expressing hopelessness were identified as independent risk factors for inpatient suicide. Substance use, involuntary detention, family history of suicide, and number of previous admissions were not significant.
While not highly sensitive, a period of absence without leave, tertiary referral and hopelessness are important predictors of inpatient suicide risk that treating teams should consider in care planning.
This case-control study was undertaken in an independent mental health service in Ireland. Cases were drawn from all admissions to the service between March 2004 and February 2019. Controls were matched for date of admission. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted.
Thirty-three cases of inpatient suicide were compared to 132 controls. The inpatient suicide rate was 76.2 per 100,000 admissions. The rate of inpatient suicide fell in line with national rates despite less restrictive practices being implemented in the service. Males accounted for 66% of cases. Hanging was the most common method of suicide overall and among male patients, and drowning was the most common among females. Male gender, tertiary referral, an adverse psychosocial event during admission, a period of absence without leave and expressing hopelessness were identified as independent risk factors for inpatient suicide. Substance use, involuntary detention, family history of suicide, and number of previous admissions were not significant.
While not highly sensitive, a period of absence without leave, tertiary referral and hopelessness are important predictors of inpatient suicide risk that treating teams should consider in care planning.
Description
Citation
Hartnett, Y., Thekiso, T. B., Kowalska-Beda, P., Maher, T., McLoughlin, D. M., & Kennedy, N. (2024). Predictors of inpatient suicide in an Irish psychiatric service, a longitudinal case-control study. Suicide & life-threatening behavior, 54(4), 620–631. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.13073
Publisher
License
© 2024 American Association of Suicidology.
Journal
Suicide & life-threatening behavior
Volume
54
Issue
4
PubMed ID
ISSN
1943-278X