Citation

Polewka A, Chrostek Maj J, Kamenczak A, Groszek B, Bolechala F. Przegl. Lek. 2005; 62(6): 419-421.

Vernacular Title

Samobojstwa dokonane na tle historii wystqpujqcych uprzednio prob

Affiliation

Katedra Toksykologii Klinicznej i Srodowiskowej Collegium Medium, Uniwersytetu Jagiellonskiego, Krakow.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Przeglad Lekarski)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16225084

Abstract

The aim of the study was to estimate the risk factors for eventual suicide in the case of individuals hospitalised for a suicide attempts (or attempted suicide). The group examined comprised 238 patients, who, in the years 2000-2001, were hospitalised in the Department of Clinical Toxicology CM UJ in Krakow for suicidal self-intoxication with medical drugs. The group consisted of 63 males and 175 females ranging in age from 17 to 79 years (the mean age was 36 years). The instruments applied in the examination included a structured interview and a set of psychological tests; complementary information was obtained from the patients' case histories. In the year 2005, on the basis of the data from the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Krakow, it was established that 10 of the patients under consideration--6 females, and 4 males--had eventually committed suicide within the period concerned. The retrospective analysis of the case of each of these 10 individuals revealed that the majority of them had been treated psychiatrically for depression or alcoholic addiction, had experienced parental or marital bereavement, or had experienced serious financial difficulties. The subjects' case histories informed also about the cases of suicidal death in the families of several subjects. As should be pointed out, the results of psychological tests obtained earlier by the 10 subjects concerned did not unequivocally indicated high endangerment by the risk of eventually committing suicide. Finally, it is necessary to observe that alcoholism and depression were the most frequently diagnosed mental disorders in the case of the male suicides. In the case of the female suicides, the results of the analysis reveal a variety of psychological, psychiatric and socio-demographic factors that, eventually, could lead to suicide.