Factors Related to Increased Risk of Assaultive Behavior in Suicidal Patients

Of 667 suicidal males & 893 females, 90 males & 60 females were assaultive just prior to hospital admission. Assaultive male patients were more likely than nonassaultive males to have been referred to hospital by the law & mental health services. Assaultive females were more likely to be 34 years old or younger, & to have primary psychiatric diagnoses of paranoid schizophrenia, alcohol/drug abuse, or psychotic brain syndrome. Assaultive patients of both sexes were more likely to have delusions.