Korean J Schizophr Res.  2017 Oct;20(2):55-60. 10.16946/kjsr.2017.20.2.55.

Characteristics of Patients who Died by Suicide in a Community Mental Health Center

• Nah G
• Choi S
• Kim H
• Lee JY
• Kim JM
• Shin IS
• Yoon JS
• Kim SW

• KMID: 2395440
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.16946/kjsr.2017.20.2.55

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Severe mental illness is a major risk factor for suicide. This study aimed to identify characteristics of patients who died by suicide among subjects who had been received service from a community mental health center.
METHODS
We searched individuals who had committed suicide in Gwangju Bukgu Community Mental Health Center since 2006. Sociodemographic and clinical data were gathered from medical records and their case managers and they were compared with those of general members in the center. Characteristics of schizophrenia patients who died by suicide were particularly summarized.
RESULTS
Twelve person committed suicide between 2006 and 2016. The characteristics of those who died by suicide were male (67%), diagnosis of schizophrenia (75%), aged below 50 (83%), unemployed (92%), past history of psychiatric hospitalization (100%), recent admission within 3 months (67%), past history of suicidal attempt (78%), family history of schizophrenia (58%), poor adherence to medication (58%), and use of daily rehabilitation program (42%). Ten out of twelve (83%) showed warning sign for suicide. All identified method of suicide in patients with schizophrenia was jumping from high building. Many patients with schizophrenia, who committed suicide, suffered from comorbid depressive symptoms (67%) and auditory hallucination (78%).
CONCLUSION
Case managers should pay attention to and carefully manage individuals who showed suicidal warning, particularly with risk factors for suicide, such as unemployment, admission state or recent discharge from psychiatric hospital, poor adherence to medication, family history of schizophrenia, and a history of suicidal attempt.

Keyword

Suicide; Schizophrenia; Community mental health center; Psychological autopsy; Case management

MeSH Terms

Case Management
Depression
Diagnosis
Gwangju
Hallucinations
Hospitalization
Hospitals, Psychiatric
Humans
Male
Medical Records
Mental Health*
Methods
Rehabilitation
Risk Factors
Schizophrenia
Suicide*
Unemployment

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Comparison of characteristics between 12 patients who died by suicide and 308 general members.

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  Fig. 2. Characteristics of nine patients with schizophrenia who died by suicide. Values are percentage. ∗: Percentage was calculated from subjects with information available.

Reference

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