Characteristics of Presentations to the Emergency Department Following Attempted Suicide with Drugs

Mirjam Kummer, Thomas Müller, Aristomenis K. Exadaktylos, Stephan Krähenbühl and Evangelia Liakoni
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Mirjam Kummer: Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
Thomas Müller: Translational Research Centre, University Hospital of Psychiatry, 3000 Bern, Switzerland
Aristomenis K. Exadaktylos: Department of Emergency Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
Stephan Krähenbühl: Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
Evangelia Liakoni: Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 19, 1-15

Abstract: A relatively high proportion of attempted suicides employ self-poisoning with medication. Data from emergency department presentations can help to identify possible risk drug classes and provide a basis for preventive measures. This retrospective analysis included cases presenting at the emergency department of the University Hospital of Bern, Switzerland, from May 2012 to August 2016, after attempted suicide with drugs. We excluded attempted suicides with only alcohol or other non-medical substances. During the study period, there were 488 cases (466 patients) of attempted suicide with medical substances. The median patient age was 33 years (range 16–93) and 354 (73%) cases were female. The most commonly involved substances/drug classes were benzo-diazepines ( n = 167, 34%), neuroleptics ( n = 114, 23%) and paracetamol ( n = 111, 23%). A total of 231 (47%) cases employed only a single substance. Common symptoms included somnolence ( n = 245, 50%), tachycardia ( n = 119, 24%) and nausea/vomiting ( n = 76, 16%). In most cases, the poisoning was of minor severity ( n = 231, 47%) and the patients were admitted to a psychiatric hospital ( n = 264, 54%). Important preventive measures may include careful monitoring for suicidal behaviour when prescribing psychotropic drugs, in addition to restrictions in pack size. Efforts should also be made to enhance the awareness of health professionals qualified to prescribe or supply paracetamol.

Keywords: suicide; suicidal attempt; drug poisoning; emergency department (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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