title: Autopsy study of fatal deliberate self harm.
abstract: A retrospective autopsy study of fatal deliberate self harm (FDSH) was undertaken in the mortuary of Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, Southern India over a period of 12 years (1993-2004). Out of 1917 cases autopsied, 21.2% were deaths due to deliberate self harm (DSH). The male sex (66.1%) and victims in the third decade of life (35.9%) predominated. More than two-thirds of the decedents were married. More fatalities were observed during the winter season (35.8%) and in the day time (62.2%). Dispair with life (61.9%) was the most common motive for FDSH. The majority of fatalities were due to poisoning (73.5%), where organophosphorous compounds topped the list (71.9%). About one-third of the victims survived for 18 to 24 hours after DSH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, 576104, India. madhu255@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arun
authors.forename: Vikram
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Palimar
authors.forename: Ritesh G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.forename: Y P Raghavendra
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Babu
authors.forename: Prashantha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhagavath
authors.forename: Manoj Kumar
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Mohanty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013405:Suicide