Citation

Poma SZ, Magno N, Belletti S, Toniolo E. J. Prev. Med. Hyg. 2007; 48(3): 79-82.

Affiliation

Department of Mental Health, Local Health Agency 18, Rovigo, Italy. stezanone@libero.it

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Pacini Editore)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

18274342

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The greatest predictor of eventual suicide is parasuicide, which includes both suicide attempts and deliberate self-harm with no intent to die. The rate of parasuicide is reckoned to be at least ten times the suicide rate. METHODS: An observational study of the population of Rovigo Public Health Unit has been carried out to investigate parasuicide cases that presented to a general hospital in the six-year period from 1st January 2000 to 31st December 2005. RESULTS: An incidence of 36.39 parasuicides/100,000/year referred to a general hospital has been estimated, with a majority of female and young subjects. The principal method used was drug poisoning (59.1%); the more frequent diagnoses are mood and personality disorders. Method of attempt distribution is different for age and gender (p < 0.001), while diagnosis distribution is different only for age (p < 0.001). Comparison between method of attempt and diagnosis distribution indicates a significant difference (p < 0.01). In 36.4% of cases there was no contact with the Mental Health Service after parasuicide. DISCUSSION: The present study confirms that parasuicide is more common in females and younger people and that the more probable diagnoses are mood and personality disorders. The finding of a high number of subjects without any previous contact with the Mental Health Service and, especially, after parasuicide, claims attention on primary and secondary prevention of suicidal behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: The results appear to be in line with those from literature on parasuicide in Western populations.

Language: en