Non-fatal suicidal behaviour: associated factors

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the factors that influence non-fatal suicidal behaviour. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross sectional study was undertaken and data were collected from a review of medical records of patients in addition to structured interviews with patients using the Columbia Suicide Severity rating scale. RESULTS: The survey findings (n=20) revealed that one-quarter of patients had more than one attempt. More than one third of the patients began having suicidal thoughts years ago (n=9, 45%). Half of the responders had thoughts ranging from twice a week to many times a day and the thoughts lasted from one to four hours a day to most of the day in 60% of responders. Six patients told someone of their plan. While females used the method of overdosing on pills, males tended to drink a poisonous substance or use more lethal means of attempting suicide. From the case note review (n=42), more females (n=31, 74%) attempted suicide compared to males (n=11, 26%). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest there were factors that may highlight at-risk persons e.g. those with past attempts, and those who confide in others about their plans. It appears persons have suicidal thoughts for several years and the majority think about these on most days and these thoughts last at least 1-4 hours a day. There is therefore a role for health education to the public who need to be aware of warning signs and how to handle the situation if they are told about a planned attempt.

A double-blind, crossover study of a sustained-release tablet of ketoprofen and normal ketoprofen capsules in the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis.

A double-blind, crossover study was carried out to assess the efficacy and tolerance of a sustained-release tablet formulation of ketoprofen given as a single daily 200 mg dose compared with 2 X 50 mg normal formulation capsules of ketoprofen twice daily. Eighty-four patients with osteoarthritis of the hip and/or knee were admitted and received treatment for periods of 3 weeks, preceded by a 1-week placebo wash-out period, with each of the two formulations, in random order. Patients were seen after each study period and clinical objective and subjective assessments made of signs and symptoms of the disease, consumption of rescue analgesic and unwanted effects. Forty-eight of the patients continued, mainly on the sustained-release formulation, in an open long-term tolerance study lasting 3 months. The results were analyzed for 68 patients who completed the double-blind phase and for 33 who completed the open phase of the study. The patients who were withdrawn did so mainly for non-drug related reasons; 19 patients did so because of gastric disorders during the first phase. The incidence of side-effects was low and similar in frequency and nature with both formulations; those that were reported were mild and principally gastro-intestinal. Both active treatment periods afforded similar symptomatic relief and were preferred to placebo by all but 2 patients. No significant differences were found between active treatments, although there was a trend in favour of the sustained-release formulation for most of the parameters studied as there was in patient preference.

Methods of measuring in Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease with special regard to the prognosis.

For scientific, statistical comparisons of results of treatment of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD), a standard classification of the stage of the disease, and a precise definition of the method of evaluation of the results are necessary. A precise measurement of the sphericity of the head, and measuring of the epiphyseal quotient, joint surface quotient and radius quotient are recommended. By this very strict separation, one obtains a good spread on the groups for statistical tests. Ideally, the measuring ought to be made at the age of 16 or later, when growth has stopped and quotients will no longer change. For the purpose of treatment and advising patients of their prognosis a simple and easily performed method of evaluation should be used, for instance, measuring the sphericity of the head and the radius quotient (RQ). The RQ can be easily determined at the same time as the countour of the circle of the head is defined. The RQ is sufficiently strict, can be measured after the closure of the epiphyseal line, and also gives a good indication of protrusion of the head beyond the acetabular margin. Studies comparing measurements on plane roentgenograms with arthrographic findings in the cartilagenous surface are needed.