Evaluation of suicide risk factors in poisoning patients

ABSTRACTEvaluation of Suicide Risk Factors in Poisoning PatientsSuicide is defined as to prefer death in death-life dilemma. Poisoning is beingfaced by any agent that impacts functions of humanbodies negatively.Posioning patients who committed suicide are frequently seen in emergencydepartments. In such patients determining the factors that contribute suicide attemptand their prevention will decrease committing suicide as well as increasing lifequality. This prospective study has been approved by the medical faculty?s ethicalcommitee. The study was performed between October 01th, 2005- November 30th,2005. One hundred and fourty six patients, of which 112 poisoning patientsattempted suicide and 34 patients were poisoned accidently, who were older than 14years old and who admitted to the emergency department included in this study.Thirty eight patients were excluded because of refusing to answer questionaire.Fourty five (60.8%) female, 29 (39.2%) male, totally 74 patients were included in thestudy. These paitents were asked questions, previously prepared, aboutepidemiologic and sociodemographic factors that may influence suicide behaviour.We used ?SPSS 14.0 for Windows? for statistical analysis.Among the factors influencing suicide behaviour, the most common seen was(33.7%) the relationship problems in the young age groups (19.68± 4.67) andfinancial problems in middle age groups (39.22± 14.36). Most of our patients wereyoung and single females. Twenty five point seven percent of the patients havepsychiatric diagnosis, mostly depression, in their medical history. Fourty one pointnine percent of poisoning patients preferred multiple drug ingestion as method ofsuicide. All of patients has admitted and treated in Emergency Observation Unit andthen discharged. All patients who commit suicide were consultated with psychiatryclinic in emergency department.Suicide behaviour is an alternative solution as well as the way of expressingoneself when there is no solution to the problems that were faced. The problems thatexperienced between people and financial problems seems like the most importantreason in this attempt. The way to help and protect these people from repeatedsuicide attempts is referring all patients to psychiatric clinic when they were admittedat emergency department.Key Words: Emergency Department, Suicide, Poisoning7