Citation

Hermida I, Fernández P, Ferrer A, Bermejo AM, Tabernero MJ. Rev. Toxicol. 2003; 20(1): 33-37.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Asociación Española de Toxicología)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The psychosocial profile of 118 poisoned patients who required admission to Miguel Servet Hospital of Zaragoza from January 1, 1995 to January 1, 1996 was studied. The mean patient age was 36.7 ± 17.6 years (range: 15-83 years) and the case management time was 5.1 ± 5.2 h (range: 0.2-24 h). A previous history of some organic diseases was recorded in 40 cases, previous psychiatric care in 71 cases and a mean value of 1.7 ± 1.2 previous poisoning attempts. Multimedicine intake (32.6%) and medicine-drug of abuse associations (29.5%) were the most frequent, prevailing benzodiazepines, antidepressants and analgesics among medicines, and alcohol among drugs of abuse. Clinical symptoms of neurological type were observed in 73 patients. The majority of the population studied (93%) lived in urban areas, with a high presence of single, unemployed men and with primary education. Family and partner-related problems were the most frequent risk factors. Finally, the psychiatric diagnosis shows the existence of personality disorders (42%), adjustment disorders (38%), substance-related disorders (25%), mood disorders (22%) and others, observing two disorders associated in 36 cases. We can conclude that the psychosocial profile seems to be very important to assess a suicidal ideation, a recurrent poisoning and/or a psychiatric evaluation.

Language: es

Keywords

Poisoning; Patients; Hospital; Psychosocial profile