Did suicidal behavior have relevance for prison suicide?

Suicides in correctional institutions occur more frequently than in the gen eral population. Inmate suicide rates have been increasing in many countrie s during the last decades, possibly reflecting a selection of highly endang ered individuals with a high prevalence of mental disorders. This study inv estigates all suicides in all correctional institutions of Austria during t he last 25 years. Methods: All available personal files of inmates who had committed suicide in the 29 Austrian prisons between January 1st, 1975, and December 31st, 1999, were analysed. Beside personal characteristics and ci rcumstances of custody, information concerning psychiatric disorders and th e inmate's history of suicidal behavior was included. Results: 220 personal files of 250 suicides were available and included. Half of all suicides ha d a history of attempted suicide and 37% had expressed suicidality. Referra l to psychiatric consultants was known in 48.6% and about 37% received psyc hopharmacological treatment. Based on these frequent signs of psychiatric i llness and vulnerability, possible implications of these results for psychi atric services of the correctional system to improve suicide prevention are discussed. Conclusions: Obvious signs of suicidality play an important rol e in vulnerability profiles for jail and prison suicides. Any signs of suic idality (st. p. attempted suicide, verbal suicide threat, self-harm) should have the consequence of further psychiatric care.