Citation

Seok SJ, Gil HW, Jeong DS, Yang JO, Lee EY, Hong SY. Korean J. Intern. Med. 2009; 247-251.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Korean Association of Internal Medicine)

DOI

10.3904/kjim.2009.24.3.247

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Paraquat (PQ) has been used in suicide attempts; an estimated 2,000 toxic ingestions occur annually, with 60-70% mortality. We sought to determine why PQ is such a common agent for suicide attempts in Korea.

METHODS: We analyzed 250 cases (143 males, 107 females) of attempted suicide by PQ ingestion from January to December 2007. The procurement of the PQ was divided into two categories: purchased and preexisting.

RESULTS: Men were more likely to have purchased PQ than women (66% vs. 22%, p=0.042). Additionally, men were more likely to be unmarried (n=34, 23.9% vs. n=10, 9.3%) or divorced or separated (n=16, 11.3% vs. n=5, 4.6%) than the women (p<0.001). The group who intentionally selected PQ (38.4%) consisted of 96 cases (54 males, 42 females) and the group who did not intentionally select PQ (61.6%) included 154 cases (89 males, 65 females). The incidence of PQ purchase was higher in the intentional selection PQ group (46.9% vs. 18.2%, p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Only 38% of patients who attempted suicide with PQ intentionally selected PQ. Thus, greater control of PQ availability is needed, especially in patients at risk.

Language: en

Keywords

Paraquat; Suicide, attempted