BACKGROUND: Suicide reduction is government strategy in many countries. We need to quantify the connection between non-fatal self-poisoning and eventual suicide. AIMS: To determine mortality after an episode of self-poisoning and to identify predictors of death by any cause or by suicide. METHOD: A retrospective single-group cohort study was undertaken with 976 consecutive patients attending a large accident and emergency unit in 1985-1986 after non-fatal self-poisoning. Information about deaths was determined from the Office for National Statistics. RESULTS: Of the original patients, 94% were traced 16 years later; 17% had died, 3.5% by probable suicide. Subsequent suicide was related to numerous factors evident at the time of the episode of self-poisoning but, when examined for their independent effects, only the severity of the self-poisoning episode and relevant previous history seemed important. CONCLUSIONS: Patients attending a general hospital after self-poisoning all require good basic assessment and care responsive to their needs. Attempts to reduce the huge excess of suicide subsequent to self-harm are not likely to achieve much if they are based on the identification of subgroups through'risk assessment'.
BACKGROUND: Suicide reduction is government strategy in many countries. We need to quantify the connection between non-fatal self-poisoning and eventual suicide. AIMS: To determine mortality after an episode of self-poisoning and to identify predictors of death by any cause or by suicide. METHOD: A retrospective single-group cohort study was undertaken with 976 consecutive patients attending a large accident and emergency unit in 1985-1986 after non-fatal self-poisoning. Information about deaths was determined from the Office for National Statistics. RESULTS: Of the original patients, 94% were traced 16 years later; 17% had died, 3.5% by probable suicide. Subsequent suicide was related to numerous factors evident at the time of the episode of self-poisoning but, when examined for their independent effects, only the severity of the self-poisoning episode and relevant previous history seemed important. CONCLUSIONS:Patients attending a general hospital after self-poisoning all require good basic assessment and care responsive to their needs. Attempts to reduce the huge excess of suicide subsequent to self-harm are not likely to achieve much if they are based on the identification of subgroups through'risk assessment'.
Authors: Eleni Karasouli; David Owens; Rachel L Abbott; Keith M Hurst; Michael Dennis Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2010-03-25 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Jina Pagura; Murray B Stein; James M Bolton; Brian J Cox; Bridget Grant; Jitender Sareen Journal: J Psychiatr Res Date: 2010-05-26 Impact factor: 4.791
Authors: Anne E Rhodes; Jennifer Bethell; Julie Spence; Paul S Links; David L Streiner; R Liisa Jaakkimainen Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2008-05-29 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Vincent C H Chen; Jen-Yu Chou; Ti-Chen Hsieh; Hung-Jung Chang; Charles T C Lee; Michael Dewey; Robert Stewart; Happy K L Tan Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2013-04-06 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Matthew J Carr; Darren M Ashcroft; Evangelos Kontopantelis; David While; Yvonne Awenat; Jayne Cooper; Carolyn Chew-Graham; Nav Kapur; Roger T Webb Journal: Ann Fam Med Date: 2017-05 Impact factor: 5.166
Authors: Matthew Miller; Katherine Hempstead; Tuan Nguyen; Catherine Barber; Sarah Rosenberg-Wohl; Deborah Azrael Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2013-04-18 Impact factor: 9.308