Changing patterns of self-poisoning in a UK health district.
Details of admissions to a dedicated district poisons treatment unit in South Glamorgan were analysed to assess changes in self-poisoning patterns between 1987-1988 and 1992-1993. Self-poisoning rates increased in both men and women, with male rates showing a relatively larger increase, resulting in a fall in female to male ratio for person-based rates from 1.33:1 to 1.13:1. The highest age-specific rates in both period were found in 15-19-year-old females. Paracetamol was the most commonly ingested poison in 1992-1993, with 43.4% of episodes involving its use, compared with 31.3% of episodes in 1987-88. Antidepressant involvement in self-poisoning also increased from 11.3% of episodes in 1987-1988 to 17.6% of episodes in 1992-1993. Repetition of self-poisoning was relatively common, with 18% of admissions per year in 1992-1993 representing repeats. Although hospital admission increased in this health district over the study periods, this was not reflected in an increase in in-patient all-cause mortality, which was only 0.5% in 1987-1988 and 0.1% in 1992-1993.
Bialas
M C
MC
Cardiff Poisons Treatment Unit, Llandough Hospital NHS Trust, Penarth, UK.
Reid
P G
PG
Beck
P
P
Lazarus
J H
JH
Smith
P M
PM
Scorer
R C
RC
Routledge
P A
PA
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000506:poisoning; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000506:poisoning; D062787:Drug Overdose; D000431:Ethanol / Q000506:poisoning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011041:Poisoning / Q000523:psychology*; D012008:Recurrence; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior; D012737:Sex Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000639:trends*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000082:Acetaminophen; D000431:Ethanol