Inpatient suicide on a general hospital psychiatric ward: Does experience with high risk patients help to prevent suicides?

Abstract

Abstract The suicide rate on a general hospital psychiatric ward taking care of highly suicidal patients was 3.2/1000 admissions over a 11-year period. This figure was lower than the suicide rate of a psychiatric hospital in the same city. Although the number of admissions increased during the period, concurrently a statistically significant decrease in suicide rate took place. The authors conclude that accretion of experience on the treatment of suicidal patients and application of adequate...