title: Changing patterns of self-poisoning in a UK health district.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Cardiff Poisons Treatment Unit, Llandough Hospital NHS Trust, Penarth, UK.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bialas
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lazarus
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Scorer
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Routledge
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000082:Acetaminophen; D000431:Ethanol