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The British Journal of Psychiatry (2005) 186: 352-353
© 2005 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

SHORT REPORTS

Occult suicidality in an emergency department population

CYNTHIA A. CLAASSEN, PhD

Department of Psychiatry, Emergency Medicine & Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas, USA

GREGORY L. LARKIN, MD, MPH, FACEP

Department of Surgery, Emergency Medicine & Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas, USA

Correspondence: Dr Cynthia A. Claassen, Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390 -9119, USA. E-mail: Cindy.Claassen{at}UTSouthwestern.edu

Declaration of interest None.

ABSTRACT

The prevalence and severity of suicidalideation was established in a patient sample seeking emergency treatment for non-psychiatric reasons. Using a computerised mental health screening panel, data were collected from waiting-room patients during randomised shifts over a 45-day period. Of 1590 screened patients, 185 (11.6%) acknowledged suicidalideation and 31 (2%) reported planning to kill themselves. Almost all of those with suicidalideation (97%) acknowledged symptoms consistent with mood, anxiety and/or substance-related disorders. Structured medical record review revealed that 25 of the 31 patients planning suicide were undetected during their index visit, and that 4 attempted suicide within 45 days of the visit. All survived.




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[Abstract] [PDF]