title: Characteristics and burden of hospitalization because of intentional self-harm: Thai national, hospital-based data for 2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a paucity of data on intentional self-harm and suicide in Thailand. It is crucial to re-evaluate the burden and health outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To measure the character and burden of acts of intentional self-harm in the Thai hospitalized population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acts of intentional-self harm were categorized using ICD 10 classification. All of inpatient-related data were analyzed using SPSS 17.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall intentional self-harm in 2010 led to 24,924 hospitalizations and 854 deaths; an incidence of 35.6/100,000 people with the highest level in two age groups: 18-25 and 26-40 year-olds. Self-poisoning (89%) was the most common method and pesticide was the leading used chemical agents. The total cost of treatment was 149,672,190 baht and the mean length of stay was 2.9 +/- 6.7 days. The mortality rate increased as the population got older with the highest rate being 10.6% for 70-79 year-olds. In 33.8% of cases, psychiatric co-diagnosis were found with anxiety disorders was the leading comorbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of intentional self-harm was medium to high, compared to other East Asians countries. Self-poisoning by exposure to pesticides was the most common self-harm method. Age over 60 had the highest mortality rate. Having a psychiatric co-diagnosis was common.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand. ppaholpak@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Pongsatorn
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paholpak
authors.forename: Poonsri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rangseekajee
authors.forename: Suwanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arunpongpaisal
authors.forename: Nawanant
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Piyavhatkul
authors.forename: Kaewjai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thepsuthammarat
authors.forename: Suchat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paholpak
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology