SUICIDES AMONG PATIENTS IN A PSYCHIATRIC-HOSPITAL

Among 23,814 patients treated at Nordvang Psychiatric Hospital in Glostrup over a 10-year period (1979 to 1988) 93 patients (47 women and 46 men) committed suicide. No increase in suicide rates (391 per 100,000 patients, 184 per 100,000 admissions) was found, in contrast to increasing suicide rates for all psychiatric patients in Denmark and in the population in general. A possible explanation could be that whereas the number of psychiatric beds in Denmark during the period decreased from 11,126 to 6,124 (45%), the number of beds (n=388) and the number of admissions at the hospital under investigation remained constant. The age at suicide increased over time for both sexes. The highest suicide rates were found for patients with reactive psychosis and neurosis, for men with depressive disorder, and younger schizophrenic patients. Previous suicide behavior, forced admission, and placement in open or closed ward had little significance.