Am J Psychiatry 1984; 141:261-263
Copyright © 1984 by American Psychiatric Association
Psychiatric care for patients with self-inflicted gunshot wounds
LM Conn, BF Rudnick and JR Lion
Self-inflicted gunshot wounds are the commonest form of suicide in this
country. Seventeen individuals with such injuries were admitted to a trauma
center over a 3-month period. Review of their records showed that
psychiatric consultation was requested for only nine of the 13 patients who
survived their wounds. Information on alcohol use was missing from half the
case records and only six of the 13 survivors received psychiatric care
after discharge. Use of guns in suicide attempts may evoke strong feelings
in health care providers, resulting in omissions in history taking,
evaluation, and follow-up.
