Citation

Arensman E, Corcoran P, Perry IJ. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 128-129.

Affiliation

National Suicide Research Foundation, 1 Perrott Avenue, College Road, NA, Cork, Ireland. (ella.nsrf@iol.ie)

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16964097

Abstract

Objectives: 1) To examine recommended aftercare among DSH patients presenting to A&E departments in Ireland, 2) To examine differences in recommended aftercare among DSH patients with regard to geographical area, gender, method of DSH and repeater status. Through the National Registry of Deliberate Self Harm (National Parasuicide Registry), in 2003 information was obtained on 11,200 hospital presentations following DSH. Using a standard monitoring form, information was recorded on age, gender, method of DSH and recommended aftercare. Drug and other poisonings more often led to general admission (55-59% vs. 21-32%, p<.01). DSH patients engaging in self-cutting were twice as likely to be discharged following treatment in A&E (50% vs. 23%, p<.01). Direct psychiatric admission was three times more common following attempted hanging and drowning (33% vs. 11%, p<.001). However, 31% were discharged from A&E following attempted hanging, and 25% following attempted drowning. There was marked regional variation in the next care recommended, ranging from 47% being discharged from A&E in the Eastern region versus 9% in the South Eastern region (p<.001). The findings indicate a lack of standardised assessment and management procedures for DSH patients, which may reflect the availability of resources and variation in quality of care.

Language: en