Ming-Been Lee

Publications (6)11.58 Total impact

• Article: The Predictors of Suicidality in Previous Suicide Attempters following Case Management Services.

  Wei-Jen Chen, Shi-Sen Shyu, Guei-Ging Lin, Cheng-Chung Chen, Chi-Kung Ho, Ming-Been Lee, Frank Huang-Chih Chou
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  ABSTRACT: Suicide attempts constitute a serious clinical problem. People who have attempted suicide are at an elevated risk for additional suicide attempts, but there is limited evidence regarding the predictors of suicidality of suicide attempters following case management services. In the present study the indicators of suicidality after case management were examined. A total of 1,056 subjects who had recently attempted suicide were recruited from January 1, 2011, to June 30, 2011. The suicide prevention center of Kaohsiung City in Taiwan provided case management services and followed up on suicide attempt cases for 6 months. The salient factors for repeat suicide attempts were estimated using a logistic regression analysis. The results showed that multiple factors, including a "willingness to receive mental health services during a crisis," "social support," "a history of mental disorders," and "a history of suicide," could predict repeat suicide attempts with hazard ratios (0.58, 0.54, 3.84, 1.51) and 95% confidence interval (0.39-0.86, 0.36-0.83, 2.41-6.10, 1.03-2.21). The four factors mentioned above were the most accurate predictors of subsequent suicidality when case management services were utilized after 6 months of follow-up. The findings of our study could help clarify future strategies for suicide prevention.
  Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior 05/2013; · 1.33 Impact Factor
• Article: Community-Based Case Management for the Prevention of Suicide Reattempts in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

  Wei-Jen Chen, Cheng-Chung Chen, Chi-Kung Ho, Ming-Been Lee, Guei-Ging Lin, Frank Huang-Chih Chou
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  ABSTRACT: Although a previous suicide attempt constitutes a major risk factor for an eventual completed suicide, few interventions specifically designed to prevent suicide reattempts have been evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of case management for the prevention of suicide reattempts. A total of 4,765 subjects with a recent suicide attempt referred from medical and non-medical organizations were consecutively recruited from July 2006 to June 2008. The suicide prevention program of Kaohsiung Suicide Prevention Center (KSPC) provided case management and followed up suicide-attempt cases for 6 months. Survival analysis showed that the risk of suicide reattempt was significantly lower in the case management group than in the non-contact group throughout a six-month follow-up period (hazard ratio = 2.93; 95% CI = 2.47-3.47). The hazard ratio (HR) of the Cox proportional hazard model for sex was 0.77 (95% CI = 0.65-0.91). Case management appears to be effective in preventing suicide reattempts in patients with a recent prior attempt. In addition, case management appeared to be more beneficial in preventing suicide reattempts in male subjects.
  Community Mental Health Journal 02/2012; · 1.03 Impact Factor
• Article: The relationships between quality of life, psychiatric illness, and suicidal ideation in geriatric veterans living in a veterans' home: a structural equation modeling approach.

  Wei-Jen Chen, Cheng-Chung Chen, Chi-Kung Ho, Frank Huang-Chih Chou, Ming-Been Lee, Forwey Lung, Guei-Ging Lin, Ching-Yun Teng, Yi-Ting Chung, Ying-Chuan Wang, Feng-Ching Sun
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  ABSTRACT: This study tested a structural model and examined the relationships between age, suicidal ideation, and scores on the 5-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-5), the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), and the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-12 (MOS SF-12) in a sample of veterans' home residents. Of the 266 individuals recruited, 226 completed the questionnaires, resulting in a response rate of 84.9%. Participants completed the BSRS-5, GDS-15, MOS SF-12, and a demographic survey. Analysis of Moment Structures, Version 7.0, was used to test the structural relationships of the model with a structural equation modeling analysis and a maximum likelihood ratio estimation. Patient subitem scores, which ranked their feelings of depression, hostility, and inferiority, were summed to determine their 3-BSRS-subitem sum scores. The measures of model fitness were as follows: goodness-of-fit (χ = 12.03, df = 7, p = 0.1), goodness-of-fit index (0.98), adjusted goodness-of-fit index (0.95), comparative fit index (0.99), parsimony ratio (0.47), and root mean square error of approximation (0.06). All indices suggested that the final model fit the data well. Age was inversely related to physical component summary, which was inversely related to the 3-BSRS-subitem sum score. Mental component summary was inversely related to the 3-BSRS-subitem sum score and the GDS-15. Physical component summary was inversely related to the GDS-15. The 3-BSRS-subitem sum score correlated with suicidal ideation. The data reveal a significant relationship between quality of life and suicidal ideation, which may be affected more by the 3-BSRS-subitem sum score than by the GDS-15. The proposed model has the potential to help healthcare professionals effectively design and implement their suicide prevention programs.
  The American journal of geriatric psychiatry: official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry 06/2011; 19(6):597-601. · 3.35 Impact Factor
• Article: Evaluation of the suicide prevention program in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, using the CIPP evaluation model.

  Wen-Wei Ho, Wei-Jen Chen, Chi-Kung Ho, Ming-Been Lee, Cheng-Chung Chen, Frank Huang-Chih Chou
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  ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Kaohsiung Suicide Prevention Center (KSPC) of Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, during the period from June 2005 to June 2008. We used a modified CIPP evaluation model to evaluate the suicide prevention program in Kaohsiung. Four evaluation models were applied to evaluate the KSPC: a context evaluation of the background and origin of the center, an input evaluation of the resources of the center, a process evaluation of the activities of the suicide prevention project, and a product evaluation of the ascertainment of project objectives. The context evaluation revealed that the task of the KSPC is to lower mortality. The input evaluation assessed the efficiency of manpower and the grants supported by Taiwan's Department of Health and Kaohsiung City government's Bureau of Health. In the process evaluation, we inspected the suicide prevention strategies of the KSPC, which are a modified version of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy of Australia. In the product evaluation, four major objectives were evaluated: (1) the suicide rate in Kaohsiung, (2) the reported suicidal cases, (3) crisis line calls, and (4) telephone counseling. From 2005 to 2008, the number of telephone counseling sessions (1,432, 2,010, 7,051, 12,517) and crisis line calls (0, 4,320, 10,339, 14,502) increased. Because of the increase in reported suicidal cases (1,328, 2,625, 2,795, and 2,989, respectively), cases which were underreported in the past, we have increasingly been able to contact the people who need help. During this same time period, the half-year suicide re-attempt rate decreased significantly for those who received services, and the committed suicide rate (21.4, 20.1, 18.2, and 17.8 per 100,000 populations, respectively) also decreased. The suicide prevention program in Kaohsiung is worth implementing on a continual basis if financial constraints are addressed.
  Community Mental Health Journal 12/2010; 47(5):542-50. · 1.03 Impact Factor
• Article: The suitability of the BSRS‐5 for assessing elderly who have attempted suicide and need to be referred for professional mental health consultation in a metropolitan city, Taiwan

  Wei-Jen Chen, Cheng-Chung Chen, Chi-Kung Ho, Ming-Been Lee, Yi-Ting Chung, Ying-Chuan Wang, Guei-Ging Lin, Ren-yi Lu, Feng-Ching Sun, Frank Huang-Chih Chou
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  ABSTRACT: Objectives The goals of this study are to (1) investigate the prevalence of necessary referral for professional mental health consultation for elderly people who attempted suicide (“suicide-attempted”) in Kaohsiung city, Taiwan during 2006–2007, (2) assess whether the 5-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-5) can be used as an efficient screening instrument for assessing the probability of a second suicide attempt among the elderly, and (3) examine predictors of needing referral among the suicide-attempted.Methods During the study period, 144 suicide-attempted elderly subjects were enrolled. Demographic data, BSRS-5, SAD PERSONS scale, and Medical Outcome Study Short Form-12 (MOS SF-12) data were collected by a trained semi-professional. The prevalence of necessary referrals for the suicide-attempted elderly was estimated, and the salient factors for their referral were evaluated with logistic regression analysis.ResultsA total of 109 participants out of the 144 recruited completed the questionnaires, giving a response rate of 75.7%. The prevalence of necessary referrals for professional mental health consultation was 33.9% (37/109). The significant predictors of needing referrals were lower scores for MCS (OR = 0.89; 95% CI = 0.83–0.96), family discord (OR = 3.86; 95% CI = 1.17–12.75), and type of interviewee (OR = 4.97; 95% CI = 1.57–15.74).Conclusion When the BSRS-5 is used to evaluate the referral of elderly patients who have attempted suicide for a professional mental health consultation, it is best to conduct in-person interviews to ask whether the elderly patient still has any suicidal ideation. In addition, evaluating quality of life and level of family discord may also be crucial for suicide prevention in the elderly. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
  International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 03/2009; 24(10):1151 - 1157. · 2.42 Impact Factor
• Article: The suitability of the BSRS-5 for assessing elderly who have attempted suicide and need to be referred for professional mental health consultation in a metropolitan city, Taiwan.

  Wei-Jen Chen, Cheng-Chung Chen, Chi-Kung Ho, Ming-Been Lee, Yi-Ting Chung, Ying-Chuan Wang, Guei-Ging Lin, Ren-yi Lu, Feng-Ching Sun, Frank Huang-Chih Chou
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: The goals of this study are to (1) investigate the prevalence of necessary referral for professional mental health consultation for elderly people who attempted suicide ("suicide-attempted") in Kaohsiung city, Taiwan during 2006-2007, (2) assess whether the 5-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-5) can be used as an efficient screening instrument for assessing the probability of a second suicide attempt among the elderly, and (3) examine predictors of needing referral among the suicide-attempted. During the study period, 144 suicide-attempted elderly subjects were enrolled. Demographic data, BSRS-5, SAD PERSONS scale, and Medical Outcome Study Short Form-12 (MOS SF-12) data were collected by a trained semi-professional. The prevalence of necessary referrals for the suicide-attempted elderly was estimated, and the salient factors for their referral were evaluated with logistic regression analysis. A total of 109 participants out of the 144 recruited completed the questionnaires, giving a response rate of 75.7%. The prevalence of necessary referrals for professional mental health consultation was 33.9% (37/109). The significant predictors of needing referrals were lower scores for MCS (OR = 0.89; 95% CI = 0.83-0.96), family discord (OR = 3.86; 95% CI = 1.17-12.75), and type of interviewee (OR = 4.97; 95% CI = 1.57-15.74). When the BSRS-5 is used to evaluate the referral of elderly patients who have attempted suicide for a professional mental health consultation, it is best to conduct in-person interviews to ask whether the elderly patient still has any suicidal ideation. In addition, evaluating quality of life and level of family discord may also be crucial for suicide prevention in the elderly.
  International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 03/2009; 24(10):1151-7. · 2.42 Impact Factor