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Suicide Among Psychiatric Patients In Ilorin
Abstract
Objectives: To once again, draw attention to suicide in Nigeria. Two, to demonstrate that where a disorder is few and far in between, psychological autopsy through interview of key informant(s) could be quite revealing. Finally, since no study on suicide has been documented in the study area or its environment, this study is expected to provide baseline data for future works.
Method: All patients attending a newly established psychiatric unit in Ilorin, Nigeria were actively followed up. Patients who defaulted for six consecutive appointments were traced. Where there was tentative evidence of suicide, a psychological autopsy was done through interview of a key informant.
Findings: Of the 100 new patients seen over the four-year period, only four were presumed to have committed suicide. It was found that the suicidees were aged between 30 to 65 years, usually lonely, not religious and had expressed strong suicidal ideation/intent within two weeks of committing suicide. Three of the four case vignettes committed suicide at a point, they first showed clinical improvement.
Conclusion: It was concluded that increased attention should be paid to the management/prevention of suicide through more intensive mental health education for patients and the populace at large in order to enhance symptom recognition and search for appropriate medical attention.
KEY WORDS: Suicide, psychiatric patients
Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol.5(2) 2002: 115-119
Method: All patients attending a newly established psychiatric unit in Ilorin, Nigeria were actively followed up. Patients who defaulted for six consecutive appointments were traced. Where there was tentative evidence of suicide, a psychological autopsy was done through interview of a key informant.
Findings: Of the 100 new patients seen over the four-year period, only four were presumed to have committed suicide. It was found that the suicidees were aged between 30 to 65 years, usually lonely, not religious and had expressed strong suicidal ideation/intent within two weeks of committing suicide. Three of the four case vignettes committed suicide at a point, they first showed clinical improvement.
Conclusion: It was concluded that increased attention should be paid to the management/prevention of suicide through more intensive mental health education for patients and the populace at large in order to enhance symptom recognition and search for appropriate medical attention.
KEY WORDS: Suicide, psychiatric patients
Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol.5(2) 2002: 115-119
