Rates of carrying a firearm during the admission to a neuropsychiatry hospital

Objective: Most suicides and homicides are reported to be committed with firearms. Psychiatrists may be in a strategic position to reduce firearm morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the demographic characteristics and psychiatric diagnostic profiles of the subjects admitting to a psychiatric hospital while carrying a gun.

Methods: Data were pooled from the hospital databases to evaluate the admissions to a neuropsychiatry hospital with a firearm (n=86) between January 2012 and December 2013.

Results: Eighty-six (0.36%) of 23840 admissions were found to carry firearm with them at the admission to hospital. A vast majority of the firearmed admissions were males (97.7%, n=84). The diagnosis of the firearmed admissions were as follows: anxiety disorders 32.5% (n=28), major depressive disorder 17.4% (n=15), alcohol and substance related disorder 13.9% (n=12), schizophrenia 10.4% (n=9), bipolar disorder 8.14% (n=7), other disorders 5.8% (n=5). Also 8.14% (n=7) of the fire armed admissions were recorded as a visitor of an inpatient.

Conclusions: It is concluded that a more detailed psychiatric assessment must be considered in weapon license applications. Strategies must be developed on implementing effective gun owning prevention without exacerbating stigma or discouraging people from seeking treatment.