Deliberate self-harm patients who leave the accident and emergency department without a psychiatric assessment: a neglected population at risk of suicide.

Journal article

OBJECTIVES: Deliberate self-harm (DSH) patients, despite their risk of suicide, are often discharged directly from accident and emergency (AandE) departments without undergoing a psychiatric assessment. The aims of this study were to determine the characteristics and outcome of these patients. METHODS: The characteristics of DSH patients who were discharged directly from an AandE department over a 2-year period were investigated, comparing those who had a psychiatric assessment with those who...

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Authors: Hickey, L; Hawton, K; Fagg, J; Weitzel, H

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Journal of psychosomatic research
• Volume: 50
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 87-93
• Publication date: 2001-02-01
• DOI: 10.1016/s0022-3999(00)00225-7
• EISSN: 1879-1360
• ISSN: 0022-3999
• Language: English
• Keywords: Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Humans; Risk Factors; Self-Injurious Behavior; Emergency Services, Psychiatric; Mental Disorders; Male; Female; Time Factors; Patient Discharge; Suicide, Attempted; Adult; Mental Health Services; Follow-Up Studies