Year: 2009 Source: General Hospital Psychiatry, v.31, no.2, (March-April 2009), p.110-115 SIEC No: 20100488

This study compared the characteristics of psychiatric & nonpsychiatric suicidal inpatients in a Taiwanese general hospital. Predictors of completed suicide were examined. 110 cases were identified through adverse event reports, 1995-2004. Psychiatric inpatients with suicidal acts were mainly younger females with psychiatric diagnoses & previous suicide attempts. Nonpsychiatric suicidal inpatients had less suicide communication, performed suicidal acts sooner after admission, & used more violent methods than did psychiatric inpatients. Suicidal acts done outside of the hospital setting, the use of violent methods, & male gender increased the risk of suicide mortality in the suicidal inpatients. (30 refs.) JA