Abstract
BackgroundAttempted suicide is a major public health problem, and the efficacies of current postvention protocols vary. We evaluated the effectiveness of telephone follow-up of patients referred to an emergency psychiatric unit for attempted suicide on any further attempt/s over the following year.MethodIn a single-center, controlled study with intent to treat, we evaluated the efficacy of a protocol of telephone follow-up of 436 patients at 8, 30, and 60 days after they were treated for attempted suicide. As controls for comparison, we evaluated patients with similar social and demographic characteristics referred to our emergency psychiatric unit in the year prior to the study who did not receive telephone follow-up after their initial hospitalization. Data were analyzed using logistic regression.ResultsVery early telephone follow-up of our patients effectively reduced recidivism and seemed to be the only protective factor against repeated suicide attempt.ConclusionsImplementing a protocol of early telephone follow-up after attempted suicide could help prevent repeated attempt/s. More controlled studies are needed to assess optimal techniques to prevent such repetition.
Highlights
Attempted suicide is a major public health problem, and the efficacies of current postvention protocols vary
Objectives of the study In patients treated for attempted suicide in our university hospital’s Department of Emergency Psychiatry, we prospectively evaluated the efficacy of a program of telephone follow-up over the year following the initial visit on any further attempt/s
Participants Study patients included those admitted to the Department of Emergency Psychiatry for suicide attempt between 01 January through 31 December 2010 who resided within the catchment area of the hospital, were at least 18 years of age, had no history of psychiatric hospitalization exceeding 72 h in a crisis unit, and whose situation permitted follow-up
Summary
Attempted suicide is a major public health problem, and the efficacies of current postvention protocols vary. We evaluated the effectiveness of telephone follow-up of patients referred to an emergency psychiatric unit for attempted suicide on any further attempt/s over the following year. In 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) [1] reported that 15 in 100,000 individuals, more than 800,000 each year, die by suicide worldwide, and suicide attempts outnumber deaths from suicide by nearly 20 times. Suicide and attempted suicide are major public health problems, increasing the costs of healthcare, years of life lost, work stoppages, and emotional burdens on families. France has been ranked 14th in the world for deaths by suicide, with a reported approximately 160,000 people seeking medical attention following a suicide attempt each year [17]. Most patients who attempt suicide are evaluated in the emergency unit of the university
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