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Cited by 75Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesPsychiatric care and mental health servicesHomicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse

Warning signs for suicide within a week of healthcare contact in Veteran decedents

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Britton, Peter C., Ilgen, Mark A., Rudd, M. David, Conner, Kenneth R.·2012·Psychiatry Research
DOI 10.1016/j.psychres.2012.06.036PMC PMC5064427
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Abstract

Objectives This study examined warning signs for suicide observed in the final day(s) of life in Veteran decedents who received healthcare from Veterans Health Administration (VHA) (N=381), using data obtained from detailed chart reviews. Methods Veterans who died within a week (7 days) of healthcare contact (18%) were compared to those who died later (82%). Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine differences in suicidal thoughts, psychiatric symptoms, and somatic symptoms as documented at the last visit, after controlling for demographic variables. A second multivariate regression examined whether the identified warning signs were also risk factors for suicide within a month (30 days) of contact. Results Documented suicidal ideation, OR (95% CI)=3.46 (1.15-10.38), and psychotic symptoms, OR (95% CI)=2.67 (1.11-6.42), at the last visit increased the likelihood of suicide within a week of healthcare contact. Both variables also increased the odds of suicide within a month of contact. Conclusions The assessment of suicidal ideation is critical to identify Veterans at immediate risk. However, recognition of psychotic symptoms may also improve identification. In addition to indicating immediate risk, some warning signs may also suggest on-going risk.

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Authors
Britton, P. C., Ilgen, M. A., Rudd, M. D., & Conner, K. R.
Affiliations
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs (US)
  • University of Michigan (US)
  • University of Utah (US)
Corresponding author
Britton, Peter C.
ORCID
Venue
Psychiatry Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2012-12
Volume
200
Issue
2-3
Pages
395-399
ISSN
0165-1781 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.psychres.2012.06.036
PMC
PMC5064427
OpenAlex
W1998330513
Cited by
75
References
45
Citations by year
2025: 3 · 2024: 16 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 5
FWCI
5.46
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Psychiatry Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (IK2 CX000641)
  • National Institutes of Health (VA999999)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychiatric care and mental health services
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse
Keywords
suicide warning signs, suicidal ideation, psychotic symptoms, veterans, Veterans Health Administration, suicide risk assessment, psychiatric symptoms, somatic symptoms
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Delivery of Health Care, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Suicide, United States, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans, Veterans Health, Suicidal Ideation

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