A Six-Year Prospective Study on Influence of Psychiatric Consultation on the Outcome of Attempted Suicide in a General Hospital

Variables that influence consultants’ rating of the severity of suicide attempts & their planning of psychiatric care were studied. Of 135 persons consecutively attempting suicide, 113 were studied. Consulting psychiatrists completed a study form on background variables of each patient. Analysis was done on lethality & intent. The study shows that separating suicide attempts by distinguishing lethality & intent is a useful way of determining the acute situation & subsequent treatment.