Substance use-related suicide after release from correctional, behavioral health, and healthcare facilities using national violent death reporting system data

Introduction Suicide and substance use are prevalent problems among persons discharged from facilities. This study (1) articulated rates of substance-related suicide deaths among those discharged correctional, behavioral health, and healthcare facilities, and (2) identified factors associated with substance-related suicide deaths unique to, or generalizing across, facility discharge. Methods We used data from the National Violent […]

Opioid use as a proximal risk factor for suicidal behavior in young adults

Introduction There is a concomitant rise in suicide rates with the prevalence of opioids involved in overdose deaths, especially among adolescents and young adults. However, there are limited studies on whether opioid use prospectively predicts suicidal behavior in youth. Methods Our sample included 183 psychiatric patients (18–30 years) admitted for a suicide attempt (SA), have current suicidal […]

Brief contact interventions to reduce suicide among discharged patients with mental health disordeArs: meta-analysis of RCTs

Background Worldwide, about 1 million died from suicide in 2000. People with mental health disorders are at greater risk of suicide, and they are especially susceptible during 1-week period after discharge from the hospital. Objective This meta-analysis paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of brief contact interventions in preventing (1) suicidal deaths, (2) suicidal attempts, and […]

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors in psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents pre- and post- COVID-19: A historical chart review and examination of contextual correlates

Background: Psychiatrically vulnerable adolescents may be at heightened risk for suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study characterizes suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempts (SA) in a sample of adolescents psychiatrically hospitalized during COVID-19. Rates of SI and SA are compared to a historical hospital sample from a matched period in the year prior. Associations between […]

Persistent suicidal ideation in a large intensive outpatient adolescent population sample: A preliminary report on the role of sleep disturbance

Sleep disturbance is a unique, yet understudied, risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs). The present study sought to explore the relationship between suicidal ideation (SI) and self-reported sleep disturbance in a sample of adolescents in an intensive outpatient program targeting suicidality (N = 691). Analyses conducted include paired samples t tests, multiple linear […]

Multiple adverse outcomes following first discharge from inpatient psychiatric care: A national cohort study

Background Discharged psychiatric inpatients are at elevated risk of serious adverse outcomes, but no previous study has comprehensively examined an array of multiple risks in a single cohort. Methods We used data from the Danish Civil Registration System to delineate a cohort of all individuals born in Denmark in 1967–2000, who were alive and residing […]

Family involvement in psychiatric hospitalizations: Associations with discharge planning and prompt follow-up care

Objective: Involving family in the care of inpatients with serious mental illness is known to be beneficial. This study examined frequencies of involvement by family in the care and discharge planning for 179 psychiatric inpatients. Methods: Involvement by family in care and discharge planning was assessed from randomly selected medical records of inpatients with Medicaid and severe […]

Aftercare and suicide reattempt prevention in Tehran, Iran: Outcome of 12-month randomized controlled study

Background: A previous suicide attempt is one of the strongest risk factors for subsequent suicide. Effective care following a suicide attempt may reduce the risk of suicide reattempts. Aims: We aimed to investigate the effect of a brief educational intervention and contact program on suicide reattempts. Method: This study was performed as a randomized clinical trial (RCT) recruiting 305 individuals who […]

Spreading a strategy to prevent suicide after psychiatric hospitalization: Results of a quality improvement spread initiative

Background Suicide after psychiatric hospitalization is a major concern. Poor treatment engagement may contribute to risk. The World Health Organization Brief Intervention and Contact (BIC) Program is an evidence-based practice shown to prevent suicide after psychiatric discharge in international trials. There have been no efforts to implement BIC into routine practice in US populations. Methods […]

Safety planning: Why it is essential on the day of discharge from in-patient psychiatric hospitalization in reducing future risks of suicide

Individuals who suffer from mental illness are at an increased risk for suicide. That risk is substantially higher in the post-discharge period from psychiatric hospitalization. Safety planning intervention (SPI) is a common intervention tool that is utilized to mitigate the risk of suicide. Current research notes promising results of SPI use in the emergency department […]

A pilot randomized trial of a brief intervention to prevent suicide after inpatient psychiatric discharge

Objective: Risk for suicide is high after psychiatric hospitalization. The World Health Organization’s Brief Intervention and Contact (BIC) program has shown efficacy in preventing suicide. A version adapted for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was studied to determine preliminary effects. Methods: Patients receiving psychiatric hospitalization because of acute risk for self-harm were randomly […]

A pilot study using frequent inpatient assessments of suicidal thinking to predict short-term postdischarge suicidal behavior

IMPORTANCE The weeks following discharge from psychiatric hospitalization are the highest-risk period for suicide attempts. Real-time monitoring of suicidal thoughts via smartphone prompts may be more indicative of short-term risk than a single, cross-sectional assessment. OBJECTIVE To test whether modeling dynamic changes in real-time suicidal thoughts during psychiatric hospitalization can improve predictions of postdischarge suicide […]

Cost-effectiveness of a contact intervention and a psychotherapeutic program for post-discharge suicide prevention

Objective: To determine the cost-effectiveness of 2 strategies for post-discharge suicide prevention, an Enhanced Contact intervention based on repeated in-person and telephone contacts, and an individual 2-month long problem-solving Psychotherapy program, in comparison to facilitated access to outpatient care following a suicide attempt. Methods: We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis based on a decision tree between January and […]

Risk of suicide after discharge from inpatient psychiatric care: A systematic review

The period following discharge from inpatient psychiatric care is recognised as an especially high-risk time for patient suicide. Astonishingly, there is a dearth of comprehensive studies examining risk and protective factors in this specific population. The aim of this study was to establish the protective and risk factors for suicide in the first year post-discharge […]

The potential iatrogenic effects of psychiatric hospitalization for suicidal behavior: A critical review and recommendations for research

Suicide rates have risen in the United States, and there has been a simultaneous, nearly ubiquitous decrease in services provided on psychiatric inpatient units (e.g., shorter stays, almost exclusive emphasis on crisis management). Despite limited research demonstrating its efficacy for reducing suicide risk, inpatient hospitalization remains the treatment of choice (and often legally mandated) for […]

Psychiatric hospitalization after emergency treatment for deliberate self-harm is associated with repeated deliberate self-harm

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether treatment at a psychiatric hospital reduces the risk of repeating parasuicide. Participants were 4,483 parasuicide patients admitted to an emergency department between July 2003 and March 2012. We analyzed the effectiveness of psychiatric hospitalization in preventing repeated parasuicide. We adjusted for background factors using multivariate logistic […]

Evaluation of structured assessment and mediating factors of suicide-focused group therapy for veterans recently discharged from inpatient psychiatry

The current study investigated the impact of adding the Suicide Status Form (SSF) to a suicide-focused group therapy for veterans recently discharged from an inpatient psychiatry setting. A sample of 141 veterans was enrolled and randomized into a Usual Assessment Group Therapy or SSF-Assessment Group Therapy. Participants completed interviews at baseline, 1, and 3 months. […]

Postdischarge suicide and death in South Korean children and adolescents hospitalized for a psychiatric illness

Objective The postdischarge suicide rate in children and adolescents ever hospitalized for a psychiatric illness is much higher than that of children and adolescents in the general population. We aimed to investigate the postdischarge death and suicide among children and adolescents hospitalized for a psychiatric illness using the Korean National Health Insurance database and causes […]