Suicide attempts : a retrospective study.

A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Medicine, University of the witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in part fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Medicine in psychiatry.A descriptive study of 130 suicide attempts seen at the psychiatric department, Baragwanath Hospital during the six month period 01/01/89 to 30/06/89 is presented. Demographic, clinical and psychosocial data were reviewed and discussed. A follow-up assessment was done six months after the suicide attempt. The patients who had attempted suicide made up 10% of the patients seen at the psychiatric department. Seventy six percent of the patients that attempted suicide were under the age of 30 years. The male:female ratio was 1:2. The ingestion of chemicals (65%) was the predominant method used, The major predisposing factor was interpersonal conflict (70%). It was found that these patients were less likely than whites to have previously self-poisoned, have received previous psychiatric treatment, or be suffering from depression or a personality disorder. Sixty nine percent of the patients were given follow-up appointments. There was a poor followup rate (25%). A recurrence of suicidal behaviour within six months was 4%.Andrew Chakane 201

An analysis of acute admissions to a general hospital psychiatric unit

Rapid turnover of patients in a general hospital psychiatric unit demands stabilization and discharge as soon as possible. It is likely that patients are being prematurely discharged because of this pressure.Aim: The study sought to analyse admissions to an acute psychiatric unit with a view to determining the demographic distribution of the patients, duration of stay, and patterns of substance abuse with specific emphasis on patients discharged within seven days of admission.Method: One hundred and thirty five consecutive patients, 18 years and older, who were admitted to the unit during a three-month period were included in the study. The data was obtained from a questionnaire, completed by the doctor on discharge.Results: Nearly 40% of the patients were discharged within seven days of admission. Most of the patients were youthful, substance abusing males with a past psychiatric history of either an Axis I or a co-morbid Axis II disorder, and had defaulted on their regular follow up.Conclusion: The profile of the short stay admissions suggests that our concerns regarding premature discharge are unjustified.Keywords: Acute admissions, Psychiatric, General hospitalSouth African Psychiatry Review - November 200