Citation

Al-Samarrai M, Hussein M. Arab J. Psychiatr. 2000; 11(2): 113-121.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Arab Federation of Psychiatrists)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Objectives: This prospective study was conducted to identify the clinical characteristics of self-poisoning in an emergency department patients in Baghdad. Method: Fifty eight patients with self-poisoning attended the emergency department of University Hospital over four month period were studied thoroughly. Results: The rate of self-poisoning was 8.8/1000 of the total emergency cases. The act was most common among females (Male to female ratio was 1:2,2), young age group under 30 years (70.7%), the single patients (48%), the employed (36%), the highly educated ones (48%) and the urban dwellers. The patients were equally distributed among the different socio-economic states. Psychotropic drugs were the most frequent ingested substances (48.2%) followed by non-ingestant chemicals. Two patients died. Most of the patients had no previous overdose (91.1), low rate of suicidal intent (14%), higher impulsivity (78%) and higher rate (53.5%) of family problems. Tension reduction was the main motive. Only a quarter of the patients were referred to psychiatrist. Conclusion: Parasuicide with self poisoning is an important public health problem which needs the utmost care and attention by health and law authority to control the risk of suicide. Psychiatric assessment is necessary for every self-poisoner.

Language: en