Profiles of patients using emergency departments or hospitalized for suicidal behaviors

Abstract

Objectives: This study identified profiles of patients with suicidal behaviors, their sociodemographic and clinical correlates, and assessed risk of death within a 12-month follow-up period. Methods: Based on administrative databases, this 5-year study analyzed data on 5,064 patients in Quebec who used emergency departments (ED) or were hospitalized for suicidal behaviors over a 2-year period. Latent class analysis was used for patient profiles, bivariate analysis for patient correlates over 2 years, and survival analysis for risk of death within 12-month follow-up. Results: Four profiles were identified: high suicidal behaviors and high service use (Profile 1: 23%); low suicidal behaviors and moderate service use (Profile 2: 46%); low suicidal behaviors and low service use (Profile 3: 25%); and high suicidal behaviors and high acute care, but low outpatient care (Profile 4: 6%). Profiles 1 and 4 patients had more serious conditions, with higher risk of death in Profile 1 versus Profiles 2 and 3. Profile 2 patients had relatively more common mental disorders, and Profile 3 patients less severe conditions. Profiles 3 and 4 included more men and younger patients. Conclusion: Programs better adapted to patient profiles should be deployed after ED use and hospitalization in coordination with outpatient services.

Suicidal Behaviors and Risk Taking Among Homeless Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…More than 90% of completed suicide cases have been previously diagnosed with at least one or more psychiatric condition, such as mood disorders (Isometsä, 2014), anxiety disorders (Sareen et al, 2005), personality disorders (Bertolote et al, 2004), and schizophrenia (Hor et al, 2010). In addition, aggressiveness and impulsiveness traits, as well as recent substance or alcohol use elevate the risk of suicide among individuals with mental ill-heath (Fleury et al, 2022;Forray et al, 2021;Gentil et al, 2021). A higher risk of suicidal ideation can also derive from isolation, limited social support, and decreased personal functioning, resulting from mood disorders and alcohol use disorders.…”