Factores de riesgo, asociados a intento de suicidio, comparando factores de alta y baja letalidad / Comparing high- and low-lethality factors regarding attempted suicide-associated risk factors

RESUMEN

Objetivo El propósito del estudio fue Identificar los factores de riesgo más frecuentes asociados a intento de suicidio para determinar si existen diferencias entre los factores de riesgo presentes en pacientes con tentativa de baja letalidad y los de alta letalidad. Método Se entrevistaron 106 pacientes de ambos sexos, con diagnóstico de intento de suicidio, hospitalizados en una unidad psiquiátrica, divididos en dos grupos: uno pacientes con tentativa suicida de baja letalidad y otro con tentativa de alta letalidad. Resultados Del total de 106 pacientes, 58,5 por ciento pertenecían al grupo de baja letalidad y 41,5 por ciento al grupo de alta letalidad. Los porcentajes más elevados se presentaron, en la mayoría de los casos en el grupo de tentativa de alta letalidad pero sólo en dos factores se encontró diferencia estadística significativa: "œvivir solo" e "œintoxicación etílica previa". Del total de ambos grupos, el 77,4 por ciento eran menores de 39 años, 69 por ciento eran femeninos y 31 por ciento masculinos, los factores de riesgo asociados a intento de suicidio que presentaron los porcentajes más elevados en ambos grupos fueron: antecedente familiar de alcoholismo, tentativa suicida personal previa, ansiedad generalizada y distimia. Discusión La mayoría de los factores de riesgo encontrados con mayor porcentaje, concuerdan con los reportados en la literatura médica. Conclusiones: En este estudio, el hecho de vivir sólo, e intoxicación alcohólica previa, mostraron diferencia estadística significativa, en el resto de los factores estudiados no hubo diferencia significativa.

ABSTRACT

Objective This study was aimed at identifying the most common risk factors associated with suicide attempts to determine differences between risk factors present in patients regarding their low-lethality and high-fatality suicide attempts. Method 106 patients from both sexes who had been hospitalised in a psychiatric unit following their attempts at suicide were interviewed; they were divided into two groups: low-lethality and high-lethality suicide attempt patients. Results 58.5 percent of the 106 patients were placed in the low-lethality group and 41.5 percent in the high-lethality group. The highest rates occurred in the high-lethality group but only two factors had significant statistical difference: "œliving alone" and "œprior alcohol poisoning". 77.4 percent of the sample were aged under 39, 7 percent were female and 31 percent male. Having a family background of alcoholism, previously attempted suicide, generalised anxiety and dysthymia had the highest percentages as risk factors associated with attempted suicide in both groups. The risk factors having the highest percentages were consistent with those reported in the literature. Conclusions The fact of living alone and having previously suffered alcohol poisoning had statistically significant differences in this study. No significant differences were found in the rest of the factors studied here.