A retrospective study of general hospital patients who commit suicide shortly after being discharged from the hospital

Objective: To assess the scope of diagnostic screening for suicide preventi on in general hospital patients. Methods-. Retrospective medical record review of general hospital patients who committed suicide and matched-control subjects who did not commit suici de shortly after being discharged from the hospital. Results: The suicide rate was 32 per 100000 patient-years. Eight (73%) of 1 1 patients who committed suicide were diagnosed with depression, substance use disorder, or both at their last hospital admission compared with 11 (33 %) of the controls (P<.05). Only 1 of 44 patients (both cases and controls) was referred for psychiatric consultation. Conclusions: The suicide rate in general hospital patients was almost 3-fol d higher than in the general population. Depression and/or substance use di sorders were risk factors for suicide. Screening for those disorders may be beneficial for suicide prevention in the general hospital population, but will likely benefit more patients who will not commit suicide.