Suicide Risk and Acute Psychiatric Readmissions: a Prospective Cohort Study

Over one year, 1,245 consecutive psychiatric patients from a Norwegian catchment area were included at index admission & reassessed in cases of readmission. After a mean follow-up period of 562 days, a total of 1,234 readmissions were reassessed. Outcome variables included acute readmissions & readmissions for suicide risk. 54% of the index admissions & 62% of the readmissions were related to suicide risk. Substance use disorders, personality disorders, prior psychiatric hospitalization, unemployment, & receipt of social benefits were significant predictors of any readmissions & readmissions because of suicide risk. The acute ward played an important role for patients with suicidal behaviour. (24 refs.) JA