A survey of deliberate self-poisoning.
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.
McGrath
J
J
Clinical Studies Unit, Wolston Park Hospital, Wacol, QLD.
D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000150:complications; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011793:Queensland; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014478:Unemployment