Influencing factors of suicide in hospitalized patients with mental disorders: a retrospective study using medical malpractice cases in China

ObjectiveThis study aims to reveal the suicide risk factors in specific situations of medical malpractice.MethodsWe conducted a systematic analysis using the medical malpractice case data from the judgment search system on China Judgments Online, covering the years 2012 to 2022. The χ2 test was appl...

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Main Authors: Qiang Wang, Daming Sun, Guangjian Li, Lin Li, Hongyan Li, Yajun Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1545173/full
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author Qiang Wang
Daming Sun
Guangjian Li
Lin Li
Hongyan Li
Yajun Xu
author_facet Qiang Wang
Daming Sun
Guangjian Li
Lin Li
Hongyan Li
Yajun Xu
author_sort Qiang Wang
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveThis study aims to reveal the suicide risk factors in specific situations of medical malpractice.MethodsWe conducted a systematic analysis using the medical malpractice case data from the judgment search system on China Judgments Online, covering the years 2012 to 2022. The χ2 test was applied to compare group differences, while a binary logistics regression analysis was used to assess factors influencing suicide among hospitalized patients with mental disorders.ResultsA total of 268 finalized medical malpractice judgments were analyzed. From 2012 to 2022, medical malpractice cases involving psychiatric inpatients in China show a significant upward trend. Suicide cases of hospitalized patients with mental disorders accounted for 32.5% of all medical malpractice cases. These incidents were more frequent in comprehensive hospitals, tertiary hospitals, and economically developed regions such as East China and Central China. Chi-square testing and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis revealed that hospital type, history of suicidal behavior, clinical psychiatric diagnosis of others, medical fault in violating specific regulations, and medical fault in breach of duty of care were identified as independent risk factors (OR=2.662,3.866,3.567,3.247,3.593; 95% CI: 1.368-5.180, 1.473-10.146, 0.398-9.107,1.193-8.838,1.406-9.179).ConclusionsIn China, the proportion of suicide cases of hospitalized psychiatric patients in civil cases of medical malpractices has been increasing. Independent risk factors include hospital type, suicidal history, history of suicidal behavior, clinical psychiatric diagnosis of others, medical fault in violating specific regulations and medical fault in breach of duty of care. Optimizing resource allocation in comprehensive hospitals, enhancing ward safety, and standardizing clinical protocols are urgently needed to mitigate preventable suicides in this vulnerable population.
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spelling doaj-art-9913bf0d826c4514b42f41bd2ecf1d862025-08-20T03:28:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-07-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.15451731545173Influencing factors of suicide in hospitalized patients with mental disorders: a retrospective study using medical malpractice cases in ChinaQiang Wang0Daming Sun1Guangjian Li2Lin Li3Hongyan Li4Yajun Xu5Law School of Nanjing University, Nanjing University, Nanjing, ChinaForensic Science Center, East China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Psychology, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, ChinaSchool of Law, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, ChinaSchool of Basic Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, ChinaDepartment of Psychology, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, ChinaObjectiveThis study aims to reveal the suicide risk factors in specific situations of medical malpractice.MethodsWe conducted a systematic analysis using the medical malpractice case data from the judgment search system on China Judgments Online, covering the years 2012 to 2022. The χ2 test was applied to compare group differences, while a binary logistics regression analysis was used to assess factors influencing suicide among hospitalized patients with mental disorders.ResultsA total of 268 finalized medical malpractice judgments were analyzed. From 2012 to 2022, medical malpractice cases involving psychiatric inpatients in China show a significant upward trend. Suicide cases of hospitalized patients with mental disorders accounted for 32.5% of all medical malpractice cases. These incidents were more frequent in comprehensive hospitals, tertiary hospitals, and economically developed regions such as East China and Central China. Chi-square testing and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis revealed that hospital type, history of suicidal behavior, clinical psychiatric diagnosis of others, medical fault in violating specific regulations, and medical fault in breach of duty of care were identified as independent risk factors (OR=2.662,3.866,3.567,3.247,3.593; 95% CI: 1.368-5.180, 1.473-10.146, 0.398-9.107,1.193-8.838,1.406-9.179).ConclusionsIn China, the proportion of suicide cases of hospitalized psychiatric patients in civil cases of medical malpractices has been increasing. Independent risk factors include hospital type, suicidal history, history of suicidal behavior, clinical psychiatric diagnosis of others, medical fault in violating specific regulations and medical fault in breach of duty of care. Optimizing resource allocation in comprehensive hospitals, enhancing ward safety, and standardizing clinical protocols are urgently needed to mitigate preventable suicides in this vulnerable population.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1545173/fullsuicidemental disordershospitalized patientsmedical malpracticeinfluencing factorsforensic psychiatry
spellingShingle Qiang Wang
Daming Sun
Guangjian Li
Lin Li
Hongyan Li
Yajun Xu
Influencing factors of suicide in hospitalized patients with mental disorders: a retrospective study using medical malpractice cases in China
Frontiers in Psychiatry
suicide
mental disorders
hospitalized patients
medical malpractice
influencing factors
forensic psychiatry
title Influencing factors of suicide in hospitalized patients with mental disorders: a retrospective study using medical malpractice cases in China
title_full Influencing factors of suicide in hospitalized patients with mental disorders: a retrospective study using medical malpractice cases in China
title_fullStr Influencing factors of suicide in hospitalized patients with mental disorders: a retrospective study using medical malpractice cases in China
title_full_unstemmed Influencing factors of suicide in hospitalized patients with mental disorders: a retrospective study using medical malpractice cases in China
title_short Influencing factors of suicide in hospitalized patients with mental disorders: a retrospective study using medical malpractice cases in China
title_sort influencing factors of suicide in hospitalized patients with mental disorders a retrospective study using medical malpractice cases in china
topic suicide
mental disorders
hospitalized patients
medical malpractice
influencing factors
forensic psychiatry
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1545173/full
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