Inpatient suicide: Weekend leave as a risk factor. A quantitative analysis

Objective: The study focusses on biographic and social aspects including il lness behaviour of psychiatric inpatients who committed suicide in weekend leave. Method: The authors undertake a retrospective qualitative analysis of 14 ca ses of inpatient suicide. Results: 11 of 14 patients had been confronted during their weekend leaves with a milieu full of emotional conflicts with their spouses, parents or ch ildren, These conflicts had been of considerable subjective significance fo r the patients, who often experienced feelings of guilt and failure in thei r relations. Conclusion: Weekend leave of psychiatric inpatients is to be considered as a risk factor for suicide, a risk that must be taken into account before se nding a patient home for the weekend.