A Socio-Demographic, Psychiatric and Medical Profile of Inpatient Suicide Attempters in a Psychiatric Hospital of Puerto Rico

This study describes the sociodemographic, medical, & psychiatric profile of psychiatric patients who had attempted suicide. Inpatient suicide attempts occurring in a state psychiatric hospital in Puerto Rico, during March 2005-March 2007, were assessed. A total of 44 attempts were made by 31 inpatients. The majority of patients had a diagnosis of psychotic & mood disorders. The most common method was hanging & the most commonly identified precipitant was medical stressors. Additional measures should be established inside the wards in order to reduce the risk of inpatients attempting suicide. (24 refs.) JA