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Suicidal Behaviour in Severely Mentally Handicapped Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Ruth M. Walters*
Affiliation:
Stoke Park Hospital, 10 Downs Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 3TX

Extract

Four patients with IQs below 50 displayed suicidal behaviour. This refutes the notion that the severely mentally handicapped are unable to form such an intention.

Type
Brief Reports
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1990 

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References

Carter, G. & Jancar, J. (1984) Sudden deaths in the mentally handicapped. Psychological Medicine, 14, 691695.Google Scholar
Goh, S. E., Salmons, P. H. & Whittington, R. M. (1989) Hospital suicides, are there preventable factors? Profile of the psychiatric hospital suicide. British Journal of Psychiatry, 154, 247249.Google Scholar
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