[Clinical aspects and follow up of suicide attempts treated in a general intensive care unit at Landspitali University Hospital in Iceland 2000-2004].
To gather information on patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) after a serious suicide attempt (SA).



Retrospective analysis and follow up of admittances to ICUs of Landspitali University Hospital after SA years 2000-2004.



Admittances because of SA were 251 (4% of ICU admissions, 61% females, 39% males, mean age 36 yr +/- 14 ). Ten percent were admitted more than once and 61% had prior history of SA. Drug intoxication was the most prevalent type of SA (91%) and the most frequent complication was pneumonia. Following ICU stay 36% of the patients were admitted to psychiatric wards and 80% received psychiatric follow up. The main psychiatric diagnosis was addiction (43%). Majority of patients were divorced or single and the rate of unemployment was high. Mortality during ICU stay was 3%. During 3-7 year follow up 21 patients died (10 %), majority due to suicide. In a survival analysis only the number of tablets taken, APACHE II score and number of somatic diseases predicted risk of death.



The patient group is young (36 yr), majority are women (61%), repeated attempts are frequent, social circumstances are poor and death rate after discharge from hospital is high (10%) even though the vast majority (80%) receives psychiatric follow up.This raises the question if the offered treatment is effective enough. Key words: Suicide attempt, suicide, drug poisoning, intensive care, mental health care.
Sverrisson
Kristinn Orn
KO
Palsson
Sigurdur Páll
SP
Sigvaldason
Kristinn
K
Kárason
Sigurbergur
S
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult