title: Suicide by self-immolation in Tunisia: A 10 year study (2005-2014).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Tunisia, few data are available about self-immolation epidemiology especially in the absence of official statistics on suicides. The aim of our study was to analyze the trends of suicide by self-immolation over a period of ten years (2005-2014).
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a descriptive, retrospective study including all the cases of self-immolation suicides that occurred over a period of 10 years (2005-2014) and autopsied in the Department of Legal Medicine of the Charles Nicolle Hospital of Tunis, including self-immolation occurring in Northern Tunisia as well as those committed in remaining governorates and transferred before death to the central intensive care unit of burnt in Tunis receiving patients from all over Tunisia (about 80% of cases occurring in Tunisia).
  
  
  RESULTS
  235 cases of self-immolation were collected. The average age at death was 34.1±12.43 years (range 14-83 years). Gender ratio was of 3.27. Psychiatric history was mentioned in 32.8% of cases, represented by schizophrenia in 17.9% and depression in 12.3% of cases. 12.3% had a history of suicide attempts, and 7.3% presented a history of suicidal threats. The number of casualties of suicide by self-immolation tripled after 2011 with a rising trend during the next three years and slight drop in 2014. The most reported reason in our study was decompensation of a psychiatric illness (24.7%). Self-immolation occurred most frequently in a private home (34.5%) or a public place (30.2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed that self-immolation affects essentially, young men, who are unemployed and mostly having mental diseases.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia; Department of Legal Medicine, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia. Electronic address: benkhelilmehdi@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben Khelil
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Amine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zgarni
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia; Department of Legal Medicine, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Malek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaafrane
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia; Department of Legal Medicine, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Youssef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chkribane
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia; Department of Legal Medicine, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Meriem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gharbaoui
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia; Department of Legal Medicine, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Harzallah
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia; Department of Legal Medicine, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Banasr
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia; Department of Legal Medicine, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Moncef
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamdoun
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002056:Burns; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005390:Fires; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010259:Paranoid Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014478:Unemployment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Burns; Self-immolation; Suicide; Tunisia