Le suicide de patients hospitalisés en psychiatrie : analyse qualitative de huit cas à l’hôpital Sainte-Anne à Paris et recommandations

Abstract

Inpatient suicide rates are high at the psychiatric hospital. Improvement in detecting suicidal patients and preventing suicidal acts during hospitalization is essential. As part of a working group on the evaluation of professional practices on suicide risk at Sainte-Anne Hospital in Paris, we retrospectively studied eight cases of inpatient suicides that occurred between 2009 and 2018. We conducted a qualitative analysis of multidisciplinary morbidity and mortality reviews and medical records data. In our case series, all patients had a personal history of suicide attempts (notably using a violent means), and half of them previously attempted suicide during hospitalization. In most cases, suicide occurred during weekends or public holidays and inside care units. Suicide by hanging was the most prevalent method. Regarding our results and the literature, a past personal suicide attempt is the most frequent risk factor for inpatient suicide. However, prediction of suicide remains weak and all psychiatric inpatients should be considered at significant risk of suicide during hospitalization and just after discharge. Inpatient suicide prevention is primarily based on a safer hospital environment (inventory at entry, anti-suicidal furniture, no height access and windows opening, etc.). In addition, specific and repeated suicide training for care teams, continuity of care, enhanced management with assessment and monitoring protocols, good teamwork communication and better traceability of suicide risk in records appear to be organizational requirements for inpatient suicide prevention. At the individual level, quality of contacts with the patient, interactions with relatives and significant others, and active treatment of psychiatric disorders and comorbidities are fundamental. After a suicide or suicide attempt at the hospital, experience sharing should be systematically put into place to improve care practices. The implementation of postvention measures with the aim to support other patients and caregivers in the affected medical unit, as well as the victim's relatives, should complete the actions to lead.