Article Text
Articles
Management in hospital after attempted suicide
Abstract
The patient who is in hospital after an episode of deliberate self-harm is at risk both of non-fatal repetition (20% in the following year) and of successful suicide later (1–2% in the next year).8 9 Most patients admitted to hospital after self-poisoning are under 25, living unharmoniously with others and nearly all show personality difficulties rather than mental illness.10 11 This article attempts to guide the hospital doctor in the assessment and treatment of such patients.