Suicidal Patients (suicidal + patient)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Outcome of suicidal patients with schizophrenia: results from a naturalistic study

ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 5 2010
R. Schennach-Wolff
Schennach-Wolff R, Jäger M, Seemüller F, Obermeier M, Schmauss M, Laux G, Pfeiffer H, Naber D, Schmidt LG, Gaebel W, Klosterkötter J, Heuser I, Maier W, Lemke MR, Rüther E, Klingberg S, Gastpar M, Möller H-J, Riedel M. Outcome of suicidal patients with schizophrenia: results from a naturalistic study. Objective:, Purpose was to assess suicidality before and at the time of admission in patients with schizophrenia and compare outcome differences. Method:, Biweekly PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale), HAMD (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale) and UKU (Udvalg for Klinske Undersogelser Side Effect Rating Scale) ratings were evaluated in 339 in-patients with schizophrenic spectrum disorders. Response was defined as an initial 20% PANSS total score reduction at discharge, remission was defined according to the proposed consensus criteria by the Remission in Schizophrenia Working Group. Results:, Suicidal patients (22%) scored significantly higher on the PANSS negative subscore, PANSS insight item and HAMD total score at admission and at discharge. They developed significantly more side effects. No differences were found concerning response and remission between the two patient subgroups. Conclusion:, Despite receiving significantly more antidepressants the suicidal patients suffered from significantly more depressive symptoms up to discharge, yet without differing regarding response and remission. [source]


Two-Minute Mental Health Care for Elderly Patients: Inside Primary Care Visits

JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 12 2007
(See editorial comments by Drs. Charles Reynolds, Bruce L. Rollman), Carrie Farmer Teh, Mario Cruz
OBJECTIVES: To assess how care is delivered for mental disorders using videotapes of office visits involving elderly patients. DESIGN: Mixed-method observational analysis of the nature of the topics discussed, content of discussion, and the time spent on mental health. SETTINGS: Three types of settings: an academic medical center, a managed care group, and fee-for-service solo practitioners. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-five primary care physicians and 366 of their elderly patients. MEASUREMENTS: Videotapes of 385 visits covering 2,472 diverse topics were analyzed. Coding of the videotapes identified topics, determined talk time, and coded the dynamics of talk. RESULTS: Mental health topics occurred in 22% of visits, although patient survey indicated that 50% of the patients were depressed. A typical mental health discussion lasted approximately 2 minutes. Qualitative analysis suggested wide variations in physician effort in providing mental health care. Referrals to mental health specialists were rare even for severely depressed and suicidal patients. CONCLUSION: Little time is spent on mental health care for elderly patients despite heavy disease burdens. Standards of care based on a count of visits "during which a mental health problem is discussed" may need to be supplemented with guidelines about what should happen during the visit. System-level interventions are needed. [source]


Patients and nurses' perceptions of ward environmental factors and support systems in the care of suicidal patients

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 1 2006
Fan-Ko Sun PhD
Aims., The aims of this paper are to present and discuss the findings that emerged from a qualitative study exploring nurses and patients' views of the acute psychiatric ward (the context) and the type of care received (the intervening conditions). Background., The phenomenon of suicide and the nursing care of people who are suicidal have previously been investigated. However, literature demonstrates that there is a dearth of information exploring the importance of the ward context in the care of suicidal patients and the intervening conditions that are used by professionals in the care of suicidal patients. Method., Qualitative research using the grounded theory approach. Data collection and analysis., Fifteen patients who had either suicidal ideas or had attempted suicide and 15 psychiatric nurses were interviewed and observed. Data were analysed using open, axial and selective coding. Findings., A substantive theory of suicide-nursing care was developed. For the purpose of this paper, the two categories that emerged in the ,context' element of the paradigm model are explored. They were: team working and the psychiatric ward environment. In addition, the four categories from the ,intervening conditions' are discussed. They were: nurses' attitudes and beliefs have an effect on caring, barriers to caring, patients' negative thoughts and feelings about the care provided and support systems. Conclusion., The findings indicated that the context of the ward environment and the intervening conditions used by nurses in the nursing care of suicidal patients helped to define some of the complex dynamics that impacted on the development of a therapeutic relationship within the practice of suicide-nursing care. Relevance to clinical practice., Environmental factors as well as the nurses' knowledge and skills and the type of support patients receive impact on the care of suicidal patients. These findings could help to enhance and advance suicide-nursing care. [source]


Risk management with suicidal patients

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 2 2006
Alan L. Berman
The patient who is at-risk for suicide is complex and is difficult to evaluate and treat effectively. Should suicidal behavior occur, the clinician faces the potential wrath of bereaved survivors and their externalized blame exercised through a malpractice suit. The clinician's duty of care to a patient is to act affirmatively to protect a patient from violent acts against self. A finding of malpractice is established if the court finds that this duty was breached, through an act of omission or commission relative to the standard of care, and that this breach was proximately related to the patient's suicidal behavior. This article discusses the standard of care and factors that determine liability in a suicide death of a patient. An extensive list of recommendations for competent caregiving for the at-risk patient and risk management guidelines are then presented. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: In Session 62: 171,184, 2006. [source]


Mobile Crisis Team Intervention to Enhance Linkage of Discharged Suicidal Emergency Department Patients to Outpatient Psychiatric Services: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 1 2010
Glenn W. Currier MD
Abstract Objectives:, Many suicidal patients treated and released from emergency departments (ED) fail to follow through with subsequent outpatient psychiatric appointments, often presenting back for repeat ED services. Thus, the authors sought to determine whether a mobile crisis team (MCT) intervention would be more effective than standard referral to a hospital-based clinic as a means of establishing near-term clinical contact after ED discharge. This objective was based on the premise that increased attendance at the first outpatient mental health appointment would initiate an ongoing treatment course, with subsequent differential improvements in psychiatric symptoms and functioning for patients successfully linked to care. Methods:, In a rater-blinded, randomized controlled trial, 120 participants who were evaluated for suicidal thoughts, plans, or behaviors, and who were subsequently discharged from an urban ED, were randomized to follow-up either in the community via a MCT or at an outpatient mental health clinic (OPC). Both MCTs and OPCs offered the same structured array of clinical services and referral options. Results:, Successful first clinical contact after ED discharge (here described as "linkage" to care) occurred in 39 of 56 (69.6%) participants randomized to the MCT versus 19 of 64 (29.6%) to the OPC (relative risk = 2.35, 95% CI = 1.55,3.56, p < 0.001). However, we detected no significant differences between groups using intention-to-treat analyses in symptom or functional outcome measures, at either 2 weeks or 3 months after enrollment. We also found no significant differences in outcomes between participants who did attend their first prescribed appointment via MCT or OPC versus those who did not. However divided (MCT vs. OPC, present at first appointment vs. no show), groups showed significant improvements but maintained clinically significant levels of dysfunction and continued to rely on ED services at a similar rate in the 6 months after study enrollment. Conclusions:, Community-based mobile outreach was a highly effective method of contacting suicidal patients who were discharged from the ED. However, establishing initial postdischarge contact in the community versus the clinic did not prove more effective at enhancing symptomatic or functional outcomes, nor did successful linkage with outpatient psychiatric care. Overall, participants showed some improvement shortly after ED discharge regardless of outpatient clinical contact, but nonetheless remained significantly symptomatic and at risk for repeated ED presentations. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:36,43 © 2009 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine [source]