Completed Suicide in Psychiatric Inpatients and Former Inpatients: Comparative Study

49 psychiatric inpatient suicides were compared with 53 former psychiatric inpatients who had committed suicide within 1 year after discharge. Findings included a predominance of schizophrenics among inpatient suicides, & of alcoholics & drug abusers among suicides of former inpatients. Other important differences (e.g. umemployment) emerged that bore practical implications. In different diagnostic groups suicide occurs for different reasons & based on different psychosocial backgrounds.