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Table 3 Comparison between discharged and admitted post-suicide attempt patients

From: Characteristics of patients presenting post-suicide attempt to an Academic Medical Center Emergency Department in Lebanon

  Discharged N = 32 Admitted N = 76 p value
Male no. (%) 6 (18.8) 26 (34.2) 0.11
Age no. (%)
 ≤ 21 4 (12.5) 24 (31.6) 0.06
 22–49 23 (71.9) 37 (48.7)
 ≥ 50 5 (15.6) 15 (19.7)
Employment status no. (%)a
 Employed 7 (29.2) 20 (29.0) 0.62
 Unemployed 12 (50.0) 28 (40.6)
 Student 5 (20.8) 21 (30.4)
Marital status no. (%)a
 Singleb 14 (48.3) 49 (64.5) 0.13
 Married 15 (51.7) 27 (35.5)
Residential status no. (%)a
 Family 28 (90.3) 65 (85.5) 0.75
 Otherc 3 (9.7) 11 (14.5)
Underlying psychiatric disease no. (%)
 None 9 (28.1) 16 (21.1) 0.76
 Schizophrenia 3 (9.4) 5 (6.6)
 Depression 19 (59.4) 51 (67.1)
 Otherd 1 (3.1) 4 (5.3)
Patient accompanied no. (%)a
 ED with family 23 (71.9) 57 (81.4) 0.45
 ED with friends 4 (12.5) 3 (4.3)
 ED with EMS 2 (6.3) 5 (7.1)
 Othere 3 (9.4) 5 (7.1)
Mechanism used no. (%)
 Over-the-counter drugs 11 (34.4) 18 (25.0) 0.32
 Acetaminophen 7 (21.9) 16 (21.1) 0.92
 Benzodiazepines 14 (43.8) 19 (25.0) 0.05
 Prescription medications 18 (56.3) 47 (63.5) 0.48
 Non-ingestible substances 2 (6.3) 4 (5.3) 1.00
 Self-laceration 4 (12.5) 7 (9.2) 0.73
 Otherf 1 (3.1) 6 (7.9) 0.67
Venue of attempt no. (%)a
 Home 28 (87.5) 72 (96.0) 0.19
 Otherg 4 (12.5) 3 (4.0)
Day of attempt no. (%)
 Week day 23 (71.9) 54 (71.1) 0.93
 Weekend 9 (28.1) 22 (28.9)  
Concomitant alcohol abuse no. (%) 5 (15.6) 10 (13.5) 0.77
Concomitant drug abuse no. (%) 0 (0.0) 6 (8.1) 0.17
Previous attempt no. (%)
 At least one previous attempt 10 (31.1) 28 (36.8) 0.58
Time interval between two consecutive attempts no. (%)a
 Days 0 (0.0) 2 (8.7) 0.91
 Weeks 1 (12.5) 1 (4.3)
 Months 3 (37.5) 10 (43.5)
 Years 4 (50.0) 10 (43.5)
Insurance status no. (%)a
 Self 25 (78.1) 40 (59.7) 0.07
 Insuredh 7 (21.9) 27 (40.3)
Family barrier for ED admission no. (%) 17 (53.1) 2 (3.0) < 0.0001a
Psychiatry consulted in the ED no. (%) 25 (80.6) 43 (64.2) 0.10
Admission area
 Critical care – 18 (23.7) NA
 Psychiatric ward – 54 (71.1)
 Hospital floor – 4 (5.3)
Death
 Yes 2 (6.2) 1 (1.3) 0.21
  1. EMS emergency medical services, ED Emergency Department
  2. a Variables with missing values
  3. b Single includes divorced patients and those in relationships (not married)
  4. c 12 patients lived alone and 2 were domestic workers
  5. d Included 2 with substance abuse disorder and 3 with general anxiety disorder
  6. e Includes 3 presenting with personal drivers, 3 with housekeepers, and 2 with strangers
  7. f 3 attempted jumping from a lethal height, 1 firearm suicide, 1 attempted drowning, and 2 from pesticide gas
  8. g 1 in a car, 1 at boyfriend’s house, 1 at sea, 1 at a hotel, and 3 at work (public building)
  9. h Though many of our patients were insured, some insurance companies do not cover psychiatric admissions. *p ≤ 0.05 considered significant
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Annals of General Psychiatry

ISSN: 1744-859X