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Determination of Precipitating Events in the Suicide of Psychiatric Patients
Author(s) -
Maltsberger John T.,
Hendin Herbert,
Haas Ann Pollinger,
Lipschitz Alan
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1521/suli.33.2.111.22778
Subject(s) - schema (genetic algorithms) , suicide prevention , poison control , injury prevention , human factors and ergonomics , psychiatry , suicide methods , suicide attempt , medicine , occupational safety and health , medical emergency , psychology , clinical psychology , suicide rates , pathology , machine learning , computer science
Data from therapists who were treating patients when they killed themselves were used to provide information about precipitating events that was missing from accounts obtained from suicide victims' relatives and friends. Among 26 patient suicides studied, the therapists identified a precipitating event in 25 cases; in 19 of these, supporting evidence linked the identified event to the suicide. A schema was developed that identifies nine types of evidence provided by therapists in determining that an event precipitated the suicide. Use of the schema is likely to improve accurate identification of events that precipitate patient suicides, and distinguish them from unrelated coterminous events or suicide risk factors.