title: Relationship between prescribed psychotropic medications and co-ingested alcohol in intentional self-poisonings.
abstract: BackgroundAcute alcohol consumption is a major risk factor for suicide, therefore investigating factors associated with alcohol-related self-harm warrant attention.AimsTo investigate the influence of prescribed psychotropic medications on the odds of co-ingesting alcohol preceding or during intentional efforts to self-poison.MethodA cross-sectional analysis of consecutive hospital presentations following intentional self-poisoning was conducted. A total of 7270 patients (4363 women) aged 18-96 were included.ResultsThe odds of alcohol co-ingestion were increased in those not prescribed any medication (odds ratio (OR) = 1.27, 99% CI 1.10-1.46,P<0.001) and in impulsive self-poisonings (OR = 1.39, 99% CI 1.11-1.74,P<0.001). Odds were decreased in those prescribed anticonvulsants (OR = 0.69, 99% CI 0.51-0.93), antipsychotics (OR = 0.55, 99% CI 0.45-0.66) and antidepressants (OR = 0.87, 99% CI 0.77-0.99).ConclusionsFindings indicate that being medicated for a psychiatric illness may reduce the likelihood of alcohol consumption during times of acute distress, hence perhaps may reduce the risk of intentional self-poisoning.
authors.affiliation: Kate M. Chitty, BSc Hons, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Group, Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales; Timothy Dobbins, PhD, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, New South Wales; Andrew H. Dawson, MB, BS, FRCP, FRACP, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Group, Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales; Geoffrey K. Isbister, BSc, MBBS, FACEM, MD, Clinical Toxicology Research Group, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales; Nicholas A. Buckley, BMed, FRACP, MD, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Group, Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia kate.chitty@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kate M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Chitty
authors.affiliation: Kate M. Chitty, BSc Hons, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Group, Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales; Timothy Dobbins, PhD, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, New South Wales; Andrew H. Dawson, MB, BS, FRCP, FRACP, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Group, Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales; Geoffrey K. Isbister, BSc, MBBS, FACEM, MD, Clinical Toxicology Research Group, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales; Nicholas A. Buckley, BMed, FRACP, MD, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Group, Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dobbins
authors.affiliation: Kate M. Chitty, BSc Hons, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Group, Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales; Timothy Dobbins, PhD, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, New South Wales; Andrew H. Dawson, MB, BS, FRCP, FRACP, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Group, Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales; Geoffrey K. Isbister, BSc, MBBS, FACEM, MD, Clinical Toxicology Research Group, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales; Nicholas A. Buckley, BMed, FRACP, MD, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Group, Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.affiliation: Kate M. Chitty, BSc Hons, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Group, Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales; Timothy Dobbins, PhD, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, New South Wales; Andrew H. Dawson, MB, BS, FRCP, FRACP, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Group, Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales; Geoffrey K. Isbister, BSc, MBBS, FACEM, MD, Clinical Toxicology Research Group, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales; Nicholas A. Buckley, BMed, FRACP, MD, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Group, Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Geoffrey K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Isbister
authors.affiliation: Kate M. Chitty, BSc Hons, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Group, Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales; Timothy Dobbins, PhD, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, New South Wales; Andrew H. Dawson, MB, BS, FRCP, FRACP, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Group, Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales; Geoffrey K. Isbister, BSc, MBBS, FACEM, MD, Clinical Toxicology Research Group, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales; Nicholas A. Buckley, BMed, FRACP, MD, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Group, Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Buckley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs