Differences between suicide attempts and other psychiatric hospital emergencies.

INTRODUCTION: In Spain, a comparative research study between those patients treated for suicide attempt and others treated by any other reason hasn't been found. The aim of this study is to describe the differences between both types of patients in relation to sociodemographic and clinic variables together with the adverse vital events and the suicidal ideation. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive, multicentric and case-controlled study carried out in psychiatric hospital emergencies where 207 patients had been evaluated for a suicidal attempt (cases) and 233 were also evaluated by any other reasons (checkings). RESULTS: The cases presented a larger percentage of previous suicide attempts (45.4% vs. 30.0%; p=0.001) and a lower rates of prior emergency care (55.6% vs. 65.7%; p=0.030) of a history of mental disorder (77.8% vs. 86.7%; p=0.014) and follow-up in mental health. The 31.8% (n=74) exhibited suicidal ideation at the time of care and the 61.4% (n=143) expressed their desire to die when questioned. CONCLUSIONS: Neither a specific sociodemographic nor clinic profile of those who try to commit suicide has been found. But a high percentage of patients with suicidal ideation were identified in people treated for other reasons. The results emphasize the need to consider and evaluate the ideation of death and the risk of suicide in all the patients treated in psychiatric hospital emergencies.

Diferencias entre los intentos de suicidio y otras urgencias psiquiátricas hospitalarias / Differences between suicide attempts and other psychiatric hospital emergencies

Introducción. No se han encontrado estudios en España que comparen el perfil de los pacientes atendidos en urgencias de psiquiatría por un intento de suicidio con los que acuden por otro motivo. El objetivo de este estudio era describir las diferencias entre ambos tipos de pacientes en relación a variables sociodemográficas, clínicas, la presencia de acontecimientos vitales adversos y la ideación de suicidio. Metodología. Estudio descriptivo, multicéntrico y casocontrol realizado en urgencias de psiquiatría en el que se valoraron 207 pacientes que habían acudido por un intento de suicidio (casos) y 233 que habían acudido por otro motivo (controles). Resultados. Los casos presentaban una mayor proporción de intentos de suicidio previos (45,4% vs. 30,0%; p=0,001), y menor de atenciones previas en urgencias (55,6% vs. 65,7%; p=0,030), de antecedentes de trastorno mental (77,8% vs. 86,7%; p=0,014) y de seguimiento en Salud Mental (57,0% vs. 65,7%; p=0,024). El 31,8% (n=74) de los controles mostraba ideación de suicidio en el momento de la atención y el 61,4% (n=143) verbalizó su deseo de morir. Conclusiones. No se ha obtenido un perfil sociodemográfico ni clínico específico entre quienes realizan un intento de suicidio, y sí se ha encontrado un alto porcentaje de pacientes con ideación de suicidio en las personas atendidas por otro motivo. Los resultados encontrados subrayan la necesidad de tener presente y valorar la ideación de muerte y el riesgo de suicidio en todos los pacientes que acuden a urgencias de psiquiatría

Introduction. In Spain, a comparative research study between those patients treated for suicide attempt and others treated by any other reason hasn't been found. The aim of this study is to describe the differences between both types of patients in relation to sociodemographic and clinic variables together with the adverse vital events and the suicidal ideation. Methodology. A descriptive, multicentric and case-controlled study carried out in psychiatric hospital emergencies where 207 patients had been evaluated for a suicidal attempt (cases) and 233 were also evaluated by any other reasons (checkings). Results. The cases presented a larger percentage of previous suicide attempts (45.4% vs. 30.0%; p=0.001) and a lower rates of prior emergency care (55.6% vs. 65.7%; p=0.030) of a history of mental disorder (77.8% vs. 86.7%; p=0.014) and follow-up in mental health. The 31.8% (n=74) exhibited suicidal ideation at the time of care and the 61.4% (n=143) expressed their desire to die when questioned. Conclusions. Neither a specific sociodemographic nor clinic profile of those who try to commit suicide has been found. But a high percentage of patients with suicidal ideation were identified in people treated for other reasons. The results emphasize the need to consider and evaluate the ideation of death and the risk of suicide in all the patients treated in psychiatric hospital emergencies