Citation

El Din Bassim RE, Al Mutairi H, Meguid MA, El Ghonamy S, Sultan M, Al Dardiry M. Middle East Curr. Psychiatr. 2012; 19(2): 106-114.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, SpringerOpen)

DOI

10.1097/01.XME.0000413051.76274.d2

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Background One suicide attempt occurs approximately every 3 seconds, and one suicide occurs approximately every minute. However, societal suicide rates differ widely due to multiple factors. Aim This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of suicide attempts in Kuwait, as well as ethnic differences, with regard to sociodemographics, psychiatric morbidity, suicide intention and the methods used in these attempts. Patients and methods Consultation requests of suicide attempts sent to the Psychological Medicine Hospital over 1 year were collected and the prevalence was estimated per year. Out of 412 suicidal attempts, 268 cases were included from both sexes and all age groups. Sociodemographic data were collected, patients were divided into three groups according to their nationalities, and then interviewed using Structured Clinical Interview for DSMIV for axis I and II (SCID I and II) and the Pierces Suicide Intent Scale.

RESULTS The rate of suicide attempts in Kuwait was estimated to be 16/100 000 per year. Suicide attempters belonged to different nationalities; 58.3% were from the Gulf region (GR), 23% were Egyptians, and 18.7% were Asians. Of Gulf patients, 65.4% were housewives and 96% of Asians were workers. It was found that the most common method used was oral ingestion of drugs, mainly potentially nonlethal drugs, by 75.6% of Gulf region patients, 74% of Egyptians, and 32% of Asians. Violent methods, such as cutting wrists or the throat, and jumping from the window were more often used by Asians; psychiatric morbidity was more prevalent in Asians. They were diagnosed with major depressive disorder, schizophrenia and related disorder, and adjustment disorder. In contrast, borderline personality disorder was more prevalent in Egyptians and patients from the Gulf region, 29% and 24%, respectively. The majority of Asians had high suicide intention (84%), previous suicidal acts (92%), and a family history of suicide (68%).

CONCLUSION Ethnic minorities have a lower suicide attempt rate than native citizens, with differences in risk factors. Asian immigrants in Kuwait have the highest prevalence of psychiatric morbidity and use more violent methods more than the other groups, with a more prevalent past history of previous attempts, family history, and high suicide intention. © 2012 Okasha Institute of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University.

Language: en

Keywords

Depression; Suicide; Psychosis; Borderline personality disorder; Parasuicide; Psychiatric disorders