Alcohol use and its correlates in suicide attempters in a rural tertiary care teaching hospital in south India

Background: The relationship of alcohol and suicide is well documented. The interactions of alcohol use and suicide are complex. Neurobiological, genetic, psychological, social, cultural, and environmental factors are postulated to influence the outcome Aim was to find the frequency of alcohol use in suicide attempters and evaluate the association of alcohol use and its correlates in subjects who use alcohol to facilitate the attempt.Methods: It is a cross sectional observational study set in rural background in south India. Consecutive referrals of suicide attempters (n=175) were selected for the study. Details regarding the socio-demographic profile, suicide related details like lethality, intent, suicidal ideation, previous attempts, and alcohol related details like frequency, quantity and age at onset of alcohol consumption were recorded. Statistical significance of various socio demographic and clinical variables in correlation with use to facilitate attempt were analyzed. Logistic regression was used to determine the predictors in this at risk group of suicide attempters.Results: Over 43.43% of suicide attempters consumed alcohol. Intentional alcohol use prior to attempt to facilitate the attempt group constitutes about 18.29 %. High suicide intent and previous suicide attempt emerged as risk factors when alcohol was used to facilitate the attempt.Conclusions: Determinants, which increase the risk of suicide with alcohol use in rural south India, were identified.

Intentos de suicidio por intoxicación con sustancias químicas en Colombia 2007 - 2013 / Suicide attempts by chemicals poisoning in Colombia 2007 - 2013

El objetivo de este trabajo fue establecer el perfil epidemiológico de los intentos de suicidio por sustancias químicas en Colombia durante el período 2007-2013. Para ello se llevó a cabo un estudio descriptivo transversal con datos del sistema de vigilancia en salud pública SIVIGILA por intoxicaciones con sustancias químicas 2007-2013. Se encontró que el 55% de los casos en los siete años de estudio corresponde al género femenino. El 73% de casos se presenta desde los 10 hasta los 29 años, con mayor concentración (31%) en el grupo de 15 a 19 años. Por pertenencia étnica, el Negro, Mulato y Afro Colombiano muestran un alto número de casos desde 2007 a 2009; mientras que los indígenas muestran una tendencia ascendente desde el 2011 hasta 2013. La mayoría de las personas que intentan suicidarse son solteros (58%), tienen un nivel de escolaridad secundaria (50%), y viven en una cabecera municipal. Aproximadamente el 0,05% de las mujeres que intentaron quitarse la vida estaban en estado de embarazo. En conclusión, se encontró una importante incidencia de intentos de suicidio con sustancias químicas que debe ser analizada teniendo en cuenta las características socioculturales de las regiones y los grupos poblacionales que componen la nación colombiana.

The objective was to set the epidemiological profile of suicide attempts by chemical substances in Colombia during the period 2007-2013. It was carried out a descriptive cross sectional study. Data were obtained from Public Health Surveillance system (SIVIGILA) about poisoning chemicals 2007-2013. It was found that 55% of cases in 7 years of study corresponds to the female gender. 73% of cases occur from 10 to 29 years, with the highest concentration (31%) in the group of 15 to 19. By ethnicity the Black, Afro Colombian Mulato and shows a high number of cases from 2007 to 2009 and indigenous show an upward trend from 2011 to 2013. Most people who attempt suicide are single (58%) have a high school education (50%) and live in municipal head. Approximately 0.05% of the women who tried to kill themselves, were in a state of pregnancy. In conclusion, a significant incidence of suicide attempts was found with chemicals, and for analysis must take into account the socio-cultural characteristics of the regions and population groups that make up the Colombian nation.

Differences between Impulsive and Non-Impulsive Suicide Attempts among Individuals Treated in Emergency Rooms of South Korea

OBJECTIVE: A considerable proportion of suicide attempts are the result of sudden desires. Understanding such impulsive suicide attempts is necessary for effective interventions. We evaluated the impulsivity of suicide attempters treated in emergency rooms. The aim of the study was to identify the characteristics of impulsive suicide attempts by comparing these individuals to those who attempted to commit suicide in a non-impulsive manner. METHODS: This study analyzed suicide attempters who visited the emergency departments of seven selected university hospitals. A total of 269 medical records in which impulsivity of suicide attempt were confirmed were subject to be analyzed. The impulsivity of the suicide attempt was examined using a summative score of items 6 and 15 on the Suicide Intent Scale. RESULTS: A total of 48.0% of the participants were impelled by sudden inclinations to attempt suicide. Impulsive attempters were younger, unmarried and less physical illness than non-impulsive attempters, whereas no significant differences were found on psychiatric history and previous suicide history. Impulsive suicide attempters had suicide ideations that were not as severe (χ2=55.33, p<0.001) or intense (t=-8.38, p<0.001) as their counterparts'. Furthermore, medical results of impulsive suicide attempts were better than non-impulsive suicide attempts (t=-3.77, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The results suggested that a considerable proportion of suicide attempts were the result of sudden inclinations. Impulsive attempts were made in relatively earlier stages of suicide ideation; consequently, they have less intent than non-impulsive attempts.

Characteristics of Korean Suicide Attempters / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: In the current study, we investigated the general characteristics of suicide attempters and attempted to determine factors contributing to suicide attempt by analyzing severe suicide ideation and intent. METHODS: This study analyzed medical records of suicide attempters who visited the emergency departments. Data were collected from 7 university hospitals nationwide. As an evaluation measure of suicide intent, we used Suicide Intent Scale (SIS). Colombia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) was applied for assessment of severity and intensity of suicide idea and lethality of suicide behavior. RESULTS: Male gender, old age and living alone group showed higher SIS score. Male gender, low income, and having psychiatric diagnosis or suicide history group showed a high score on the severity subscale of suicide ideation of C-SSRS. Old age, low income, and having psychiatric diagnosis showed a high score on the intensity subscale of suicide ideation of C-SSRS. Actual lethality scale of C-SSRS was high in male gender and old age group. Severity and intensity of suicide ideation and suicide intent showed positive correlation with actual lethality of suicide behavior. CONCLUSION: Male gender, old age, living alone, psychiatric diagnosis, and suicide history were risk factors affecting severity and intensity of suicide ideation and intent of suicide. Severity and intensity of suicide ideation and intent are positively related to lethality of suicide behavior.

Intoxicaciones agudas en el Centro de Emergencias del Hospital General Docente Enrique Cabrera, 2009-2010: serie clínica retrospectiva / Acute intoxications in the Emergency Center of the Enrique Cabrera General Teaching Hospital, 2009-2010: retrospective clinical series

Introducción: las intoxicaciones agudas son una emergencia médica determinada por la exposición a diferentes sustancias, las cuales pueden terminar con la vida del paciente. Objetivos: caracterizar los pacientes con intoxicaciones agudas atendidos en el Centro de Emergencias del Hospital General Docente Enrique Cabrera, La Habana, desde el 1 de enero de 2009 hasta el 31 de diciembre de 2010. Método: se realizó un estudio de serie clínica retrospectiva en 208 pacientes con intoxicaciones agudas. Se seleccionaron las variables para el estudio según los objetivos y se construyeron distribuciones de frecuencias absolutas y relativas. Resultados: predominaron los pacientes del sexo femenino y del grupo etario de 20 a 29 años. La intención de suicidio fue el tipo de intoxicación más frecuente y el tipo accidental mostró aumento según mayor edad. Los medicamentos fueron los agentes etiológicos más utilizados, predominando los psicofármacos y el uso de polimedicamentos en la intención de suicidio. La bronconeumonía bacteriana fue la complicación más frecuente de los casos ingresados. Conclusiones: Se apreciaron intoxicaciones principalmente en mujeres de edad joven y presentarse con intención suicida, siendo los medicamentos los agentes más utilizados.

Introduction. Acute poisoning is a medical emergency determined by exposure to different substances, which can result in patient demise. Objectives. To characterize patients exposed to acute poisoning treated at the Emergency Center of the “Enrique Cabrera” General Teaching Hospital, Havana, from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010. Method. A retrospective clinical series of 208 patients admitted with acute poisoning. Variables were selected for the study according to the objectives and distributions of absolute and relative frequencies were calculated. Results. Patients were predominantly female and in the 20-29 age group. Suicide intent was the most frequent factor while accidental poisoning increased with age. Pharmaceutical drugs were the most common etiologic agents, with predominance of psychotropic drugs and poly-medication. Bacterial bronchopneumonia was the most common complication of hospitalized cases. Conclusions. Acute poisoning was seen mainly in young women as suicidal intent, being drugs the most common agents.