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BACKGROUND: Individuals are at a greatly increased risk of suicide and self-harm in the months following discharge from psychiatric hospital, yet little is known about the reasons for this. AIMS: To investigate the lived experience of psychiatric discharge and explore service users' experiences following discharge. METHOD: In-depth interviews were undertaken with recently discharged service users (n = 10) in the UK to explore attitudes to discharge and experiences since leaving hospital. RESULTS: Informants had mixed attitudes to discharge, and those who had not felt adequately involved in discharge decisions, or disagreed with them, had experienced urges to self-harm since being discharged. Accounts revealed a number of factors that made the postdischarge period difficult; these included both the reemergence of stressors that existed prior to hospitalization and a number of stressors that were prompted or exacerbated by hospitalization. CONCLUSION: Although inferences that can be drawn from the study are limited by the small sample size, the results draw attention to a number of factors that could be investigated further to help explain the high risk of suicide and self-harm following psychiatric discharge. Findings emphasize the importance of adequate preparation for discharge and the maintenance of ongoing relationships with known service providers where possible.

Original publication

DOI

10.1027/0227-5910/a000246

Type

Journal article

Journal

Crisis

Publication Date

2014

Volume

35

Pages

154 - 160

Keywords

in-depth interview, psychiatric discharge, qualitative, self-harm, suicide, Adult, Female, Hospitalization, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Male, Mental Disorders, Middle Aged, Patient Discharge, Qualitative Research, Risk Factors, Self-Injurious Behavior, Suicide, Young Adult