A survey of deliberate self‐poisoning

John Joseph McGrath

61 citations0/0 files storedThe Medical Journal of Australia

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Suicide and Self-Harm Studies Poisoning and overdose treatments Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse

Abstract

Over a 12-month period in 1985-1986, 325 cases of deliberate self-poisoning were admitted to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane. This survey confirms that deliberate self-poisoning remains common, accounting for 19.6% of all admissions to the intensive-care unit, and 5.4% of all medical-ward admissions. In 232 (71.4%) cases formal psychiatric consultation occurred, and some form of follow-up was organized in 227 (69.8%) cases. In the total group, the female-to-male ratio was 1.5 to one. In the 325 cases, a total of 489 substances was consumed. Benzodiazepine agents were consumed the most often (39.5% of all substances), followed by antidepressant drugs (11.7% of substances) and paracetamol (7.2% of substances). Barbiturate drugs, which previously have been shown to be prominent in deliberate self-poisoning, accounted for only 1.6% of the substances that were used in this survey. Alcohol was consumed in almost one-third (31.1%) of cases. The diagnosis of adjustment disorder with depressed mood was the most-frequent primary diagnosis (64.8% of diagnosed cases), followed by personality disorder (16.7% of diagnosed cases), schizophrenia (5.5% of diagnosed cases) and major depression (3.7% of diagnosed cases). Nearly one-half (46.8%) of all cases involved a past history of deliberate self-poisoning. Comparison of the results of this survey with those of past surveys shows that the profile of deliberate self-poisoning is changing. Barbiturate usage has declined markedly with a reciprocal increase in benzodiazepine usage. A review of the prescribing pattern of antidepressant agents in groups of individuals who are at high risk of deliberate self-poisoning is suggested in the light of the frequency of this phenomenon.

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References

2012Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 1984Trends in parasuicide and unemployment among men in Edinburgh, 1968-82.1968SUICIDE AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN BRISBANE: 1

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1991Attempted suicide in Adelaide and Perth: changing rates for males and females, 1971‐1987 1993The toxicity of drugs used for suicide 2004Risk Factors for Suicide and other Deaths Following Hospital Treated Self-Poisoning in Australia 1992Adjustment Disorder in Children and Adolescents

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