Suicide During Transition of Care: A Narrative Review of the Literature

Abstract

Suicide is a major public health concern, having caused approximately 800,000 deaths worldwide in 2014 according to the World Health Organization. The aim of this article is to provide a deeper understanding of the risk factors for suicidal behaviors after hospital discharge. In April 2018, we systematically searched two electronic databases (PubMed and Scopus) for relevant publications using the following search terms: “suicide” AND “hospital” OR “emergency department” AND “discharge.” Risk factors that were associated with a higher risk of suicide during the transition of care were demographic factors, social factors, factors related to the clinical setting and care, clinical factors, and service delivery. Suicidal behavior during transition of care was significantly prevalent among older age groups, men, unemployed patients, unmarried patients, and patients with a shorter duration of stay at the hospital and having a history of multiple hospitalizations, frequent visits to emergency departments, and reporting suicidal ideation prior admission. A number of these risk factors are modifiable; hence, the identification of these risk factors can help in formulating an effective discharge plan. [ Psychiatr Ann. 2019;49(9):409–414.]