Psychiatric Inpatients’ Perceptions of Written No-Suicide Agreements: an Exploratory Study

135 psychiatric inpatients admitted for suicidal danger were surveyed regarding their views on the benefits/limitations of written no-suicide agreements. A survey instrument developed for this study revealed that these inpatients, for the most part, rated writtten no-suicide agreements in a positive manner & in ways consistent with clinical opinion expressed in a number of qualitative/expert-opinion articles. The methodological problems & generalizability concerns associated with these results are discussed & future research needs are suggested.