BMJ 1995;311:1368-1369 (18 November)

Letters

Suicide after discharge from psychiatric hospitals in Scotland

EDITOR,--John R Geddes and Ed Juszczak provide information on trends in suicide after discharge from psychiatric hospitals in Scotland.1 They comment that studies in other countries indicate that the peak incidence of suicide and undetermined deaths occurs in the 28 days after discharge. Our data on deaths recorded as E950-959 (suicide and self inflicted injury) confirm that this is also the case in Scotland (figure). Our findings also indicate that, while the peak number of deaths occurs in the first four weeks after discharge, the risk of death from suicide continues for some time. This supports the need for good planning for patients' discharge and for community support in the months after discharge.

Geddes and Juszczak argue that the changes may be related to decreases in the number of psychiatric beds, and they call for the retention of inpatient facilities. If death rates in females in the 28 days after . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Period trends in rate of suicide in first 28 days after discharge from psychiatric hospital in Scotland, 1968-92
John R Geddes and Ed Juszczak
BMJ 1995 311: 357-360. [Abstract] [Full Text]

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