Suicidal Behaviors in Adult Psychiatric Outpatients, I: Description and Prevalence

This study evaluated the prevalence of suicidal behaviors in a large general psychiatric outpatient clinic whose patients represented a full spectrum of psychiatric illness. 55% of the patients had a history of suicidal ideation, & 25% reported at least one previous suicide attempt. About half of the suicide attempters reported multiple attempts. The main methods of attempt were overdose, jumping, & wrist cutting. (14 Refs.)