Skip to main content
Full access
Articles
Published Online: 1 April 2012

Service Utilization by Hospitalized Suicide Attempters With Schizophrenia or Depression in Montreal

Abstract

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to analyze patterns of mental health-related service utilization before and after hospitalization for attempting suicide.

Methods:

This retrospective cohort study included all persons 15 years or older with a clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia (N=195) or depression (N=330) hospitalized in Montreal, Quebec, from April 2003 to December 2004 for attempting suicide. Data on the publicly managed health and social services system were retrieved from the linked administrative databases of Montreal's Health and Social Services Agency (April 2002 to March 2005). Twelve-month preattempt service utilization profile, health care contacts three months pre- and postattempt, and predictors of postattempt service utilization were analyzed for two diagnostic groups (schizophrenia and depression).

Results:

Specialized outpatient care and hospital emergency departments were the services most used by both groups before and after attempting suicide. Use of hospital emergency services as a primary care service did not adequately ensure aftercare, whereas prior contact with services and concurrent substance use disorder predicted greater service utilization postattempt among men but not women.

Conclusions:

The publicly managed health and social services system in Montreal seems to respond rather well to severe suicide attempts, including those by men with a concurrent substance use disorder known to be at high suicide risk. However, better coordination among hospital emergency departments, primary care, specialized mental health services, and addiction services is needed in order to enhance continuity of care. (Psychiatric Services 63:364–369, 2012; doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201000405)

Formats available

You can view the full content in the following formats:

Figures and Tables

Figure 1 Twelve-month preattempt service use profile of 525 hospitalized suicide attempters with schizophrenia or depression
Table 1 Treatment settings for 525 hospitalized suicide attempters with schizophrenia or depression in three months pre- and postattempt, April 2003 to December 2004
Table 2 Logistic regression model predicting at least one mental health-related contact with services in three months postattempt among 525 hospitalized suicide attempters with schizophrenia or depression, April 2003 to December 2004

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Psychiatric Services
Go to Psychiatric Services
Psychiatric Services
Pages: 364 - 369
PubMed: 22476302

History

Published online: 1 April 2012
Published in print: April 2012

Authors

Details

Danielle Routhier, M.Sc. [email protected]
Ms. Routhier is affiliated with the Psychosocial Research Division, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Perry Pavillion (E-3311), 6875 LaSalle Blvd., Montreal, Quebec H4H 1R3, Canada (e-mail: [email protected]).
Nicole Leduc, Ph.D.
Dr. Leduc is with the Department of Health Administration, University of Montreal.
Alain Lesage, M.D., M.Phil.
Dr. Lesage is with Centre De recherche Fernand-Seguin, Hôpital L.-H. Lafontaine, University of Montreal.
Mike Benigeri, Ph.D.
Dr. Benigeri is with the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal.

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Export Citations

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.

Format
Citation style
Style
Copy to clipboard

View Options

View options

PDF/EPUB

View PDF/EPUB

Full Text

View Full Text

Get Access

Login options

Already a subscriber? Access your subscription through your login credentials or your institution for full access to this article.

Personal login Institutional Login Open Athens login
Purchase Options

Purchase this article to access the full text.

PPV Articles - Psychiatric Services

PPV Articles - Psychiatric Services

Not a subscriber?

Subscribe Now / Learn More

PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5-TR® library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.

Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Share article link

Share