Suicide in a General Hospital Psychiatric Department

Abstract

An analysis of the 7 cases of suicide in the Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, during the period 1965–1974, is presented. The problems relating to the management of suicidal patients in a general hospital psychiatric department are considered. An accent on acute pathology, short hospitalizations and ‘problem cases’ in respect of diagnosis and treatment, are seen as factors of importance as well as the coexistence of different treatment models. The absence of adequate facilities for isolation and restraint is considered with reference to the controversy regarding the efficacy of precautionary measures in preventing hospital suicide. Problems not necessarily specific to the general hospital psychiatric department such as assessment of suicidal intent in the light of suicidal threats and ideation, the significance of previous suicide attempts and difficulties in the therapist-patient relationship, were also found to have played a crucial role in the cases presented.