@article{ref1,
title="Suicidal behaviors in adult psychiatric outpatients, I: Description and prevalence",
journal="American journal of psychiatry",
year="1993",
author="Asnis, G. M. and Friedman, T. A. and Sanderson, W. C. and Kaplan, M. L. and van Praag, H. M. and Harkavy-Friedman, Jill M.",
volume="150",
number="1",
pages="108-112",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: Because the findings of previous studies of suicidal behaviors in psychiatric outpatients may not necessarily generalize to outpatients with a wide spectrum of psychiatric diagnoses, the authors evaluated the prevalence of suicidal behaviors in a large general psychiatric outpatient clinic whose patients represented a full spectrum of psychiatric illness. METHOD: A total of 651 patients participated in the study between 1987 and 1989. These patients had sought treatment at the outpatient psychiatry department of a private nonprofit hospital. Before being interviewed for treatment, all patients were given a comprehensive self-rating survey packet that included the Harkavy Asnis Suicide Survey and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-90. The Harkavy Asnis Suicide Survey is a self-report questionnaire that assesses demographic variables, current and past history of suicidal behaviors of the patient as well as family members and peers, and a detailed description of each previous attempt. RESULTS: Fifty-five percent of the patients had a history of suicidal ideation, and 25% reported at least one previous suicide attempt. Approximately half of the suicide attempters reported multiple attempts. The predominant methods of attempt were overdose (53%), jumping (17%), and wrist cutting (17%). Suicidal behavior was prevalent in most diagnostic groups. The rates of suicidal ideation among patients with mood disorders (major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disorder), adjustment disorders, and alcohol/substance abuse were significantly greater than that of the patients with generalized anxiety disorder. CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that suicidal behavior is prevalent among patients who seek treatment in a general outpatient department.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0002-953X",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}