A socio-demographic, psychiatric and medical profile of inpatient suicide attempters in a psychiatric hospital of Puerto Rico.

OBJECTIVES

Describe the socio-demographic, medical, and psychiatric profile of patients who attempted suicide in a psychiatric hospital of Puerto Rico during the period of March 2005 to March 2007. Identify the methods most frequently used; also days, time, and observation level of the patient at the time of the attempt.

METHOD

Inpatient suicidal attempts in a state psychiatric hospital were assessed from March 2005 to March 2007. Information was gathered from the incident reports of the attempts and the patients' records.

RESULTS

During the period of investigation a total of 44 suicidal attempts were made by 31 inpatients. The majority of them being diagnosed with psychotic (96.8%) and mood disorders (48.4%). The most commonly used method was hanging (79.6%), and the most commonly identified precipitant was medical stressors such as hallucinations or frustrations about their psychiatric conditions.

CONCLUSION

Most of the results of our study support previously published profiles for potential suicide attempters. Regarding prevention strategies, additional measures should be established inside the wards in order to reduce the risk of inpatients attempting suicide.