Clinical Features, Psychiatric Assessment, and Longitudinal Outcome of Suicide Attempters Admitted to a Tertiary Emergency Hospital

Abstract

The objective of this study was to characterize admissions to an emergency hospital due to suicide attempts and verify outcomes in 2 years. Data were collected from medical records and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. The sample consisted of 412 patients (58.7% women; mean age = 32.6 years old, SD = 14.3). Self-poisoning was the most frequent method (84.0%), and they were diagnosed mainly as depressive (40.3%) and borderline personality disorders (19.1%). Previous suicide attempts and current psychiatric treatment were reported by, respectively, 32.0% and 28.4%. Fifteen patients (3.6%, 9 males) died during hospitalization. At discharge, 79.3% were referred to community-based psychiatric services. Being male (OR = 2.11; 95% CI = 1.25–3.55), using violent methods (i.e., hanging, firearms, and knives) (OR = 1.96; 95% CI = 1.02–3.75) and psychiatric treatment history (OR = 2.58; 95% CI = 1.53–4.36) were predictors for psychiatric hospitalization. Of 258 patients followed for 2 years, 10 (3.9%) died (3 suicide), and 24 (9.3%) undertook new suicide attempts. Patients with a history of psychiatric treatment had higher risks of new suicide attempts (OR = 2.46, 95% CI = 1.07–5.65). Suicide attempters admitted to emergency hospitals exhibit severe psychiatric disorders, and despite interventions, they continue to present high risks for suicide attempts and death.

Keywords:

• emergency psychiatry
• emergency room
• suicide attempt
• suicide

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alcinéia Donizeti Ferreira

Alcinéia Donizeti Ferreira, Alcion Sponholz-Jr., Célia Mantovani, and Antônio Pazin-Filho Emergency Hospital of the Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, Division of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Alcion Sponholz

Alcinéia Donizeti Ferreira, Alcion Sponholz-Jr., Célia Mantovani, and Antônio Pazin-Filho Emergency Hospital of the Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, Division of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Célia Mantovani

Alcinéia Donizeti Ferreira, Alcion Sponholz-Jr., Célia Mantovani, and Antônio Pazin-Filho Emergency Hospital of the Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, Division of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Antônio Pazin-Filho

Alcinéia Donizeti Ferreira, Alcion Sponholz-Jr., Célia Mantovani, and Antônio Pazin-Filho Emergency Hospital of the Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, Division of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Afonso Dinis Costa Passos

Afonso Dinis Costa Passos, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil, Department of Social Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.

Neury José Botega

Neury José Botega, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Brazil, Department of Medical Psychology and Psychiatry, Campinas, Brazil.

Cristina Marta Del-Ben

Cristina Marta Del-Ben, Emergency Hospital of the Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, Division of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.