A PROFILE OF MEDICALLY SERIOUS SUICIDE ATTEMPTS

Background: This study identified factors associated with medically se rious suicide attempts (requiring medical hospitalization). Method: De mographic information, current psychiatric mental state, suicide attem pt and psychiatric history characteristics, and DSM-IV diagnoses were compared between 65 patients hospitalized for a medically serious suic ide attempt (MSSA) and 32 patients seen in the emergency room for suic ide attempt but not medically hospitalized (NMSSA). Results: Those wit h MSSAs had a higher rate of substance-induced mood disorder (but not substance abuse or dependence), while those with NMSSA had more attemp ts, more years since first attempt, and a higher rate of sexual and ph ysical abuse, traumatic life events, borderline personality disorder, and bipolar disorder. Conclusion: Substance-induced mood disorder is a n important diagnosis in the evaluation of suicidal patients. The vuln erability of mood effects caused by substance abuse may lead to a more serious suicide attempt despite less extensive psychiatric problems. The most important early psychiatric intervention may be the immediate recognition and aggressive treatment of an individual's affective and substance use disorders,