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Abstract
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Introduction The study of parasuicide, which means all nonfatal suicidal behaviors, helps mental health professionals to understand the steps just before suicide and consequently improves the preventive measures and strategies to save suicidal victims as much as possible. The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of persons who were most liable for parasuicidal behavior and to know the most common toxic agents used for parasuicide in Damietta Governrate, Egypt. This could help to put forward an effective protocol for the early management of these cases.
METHODS This study was carried out on 304 patients admitted to the Poisoning Control Center in Damietta Hospital, Al-Azhar University, after self poisoning. There were two main groups: the fist group, the retrospective group, included 244 parasuicidal cases of self poisoning in the period 1 October 2004-1 October 2007, and the second group, the prospective group, included 60 parasuicidal cases of self poisoning in the period 1 November 2007-31 July 2008. All patients who were included were subjected to proper clinical, toxicological, and psychiatric evaluations.
RESULTS Female patients were more prevalent than male patients (67.8% : 32.2%). The mean age was 19.89 years. Single cases represented 88.5%, illiterate patients represented 10.2%, those with primary education (up to level 6) represented 0.7%, those with preparatory-stage education (levels 7-9) represented 4.9%, those with secondarystage education (levels 10-12) represented 35.9%, and those with higher education represented 48.4%. Students represented the majority of cases (76.6%) followed by unemployed individuals (12.5%), farmers (5.6%), employees (3.3%), workers (1.3%), and nurses (0.7%). Patients coming from urban areas exceeded those from rural areas (55.9% : 44.1%). No drug dependence was reported in the studied groups; however, 14.8% of them were smokers. Family troubles were the most common precipitating factors (45.4%) followed by emotional problems (21.4%). There were seasonal variations in which 38.5% of cases presented in spring, 30.3% of cases presented in summer, 18.1% of cases presented in autumn, and 13.2% of cases presented in winter. Earlier parasuicidal acts were recorded in 13.2% of cases. Pesticides were the most commonly used toxic agents (95.1%) distributed as follows: organophosphates (69.1%), carbamates (9.9%), lindane (5.6%), warfarin (4.6%), zinc phosphide (3.9%), and paraquat (5.6%). Drugs were used in 4.9% of patients.
CONCLUSION It seems that the young age group (adolescence in special), female patients, single persons, persons with secondary and higher education, unemployment, and patients exposed to family troubles and emotional problems are at higher risk of parasuicide (self poisoning) especially during spring and summer. Pesticides were the most common agents used for parasuicide in Damietta Governorate. Professional and public awareness focusing on all the above-mentioned factors is highly needed. © 2011 Institute of Psychiatry.
Language: en |