Evaluation of suicide risk in psychiatric patients after discharge. A follow-up study

Resume Introduction Several studies show that the first period after discharge has an higher suicide risk. Objectives Following up psychiatric inpatients after discharge may be important in order to better understand the risk and the protective factors of suicide. Aim The aim of our follow-up study is to evaluate the predictive factors of suicide in a sample of psychiatric inpatients after discharge. Methods We analyzed the temperament and the levels of hopelessness, depression, suicide risk in a sample of 87 (54% males) inpatients at time T0 (during the hospitalization), T1 (12 months after discharge) and T2 (8 months after T1). We administered the following scales: BHS, MINI, TEMPS, GMDS, CGI. Results A statistically significant difference on the risk of suicide with substance abuse was found among patients who were followed up and who refused to participate, respectively at T1 (χ24 = 2.61; P P  = 0.05). At T1, 4 patients attempted suicide and 18 showed suicidal ideation. In the second follow-up, 1 patient successful committed suicide, 1 subject attempted suicide and 10 patients showed suicidal ideation. Patients with suicidal ideation at T1 showed higher levels of hopelessness and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder type I (χ24 = 10.28; P  = 0.05). Sixty-seven percent of subjects with suicidal ideation showed higher scores in the BHS at T1. Significant differences were found on the anxious temperament at T2 between two groups. Conclusions The follow-up could represent a significant strategy to prevent suicide in psychiatric patients.