Retrospective Analysis of Suicide Attempt with Analgesics

• Published in: Eurasian journal of emergency medicine 2015-12, Vol.14 (4), p.172-176
• Main Authors: Ekingen, Evren, Goktekin, Mehmet Cagri, Ardic, Sukru, Alatas, Omer Dogan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analgesics; Drug use; Emergency medical care; retrospective; Suicide; Suicides & suicide attempts
• ISSN: 2149-5807; 2149-6048
• DOI: 10.5152/eajem.2015.37880

This study aims to determine the sociodemographic characteristics of and the type of analgesics taken by patients who were admitted to our emergency service for attempting suicide by taking an analgesic. Records of 201 patients, who were admitted to our emergency service as a result of getting suicide purpose medicine as long as eight years, were retrospectively assessed. In this study, it was determined that 210 patients took analgesics for suicide purpose. Of these, 71.1% were females. Of all patients, 49.2% were single, 48.8% were married, and 2% were divorced. The frequency of suicide attempt between the ages of 15 and 24 years was higher (56.7%). It was determined that 157 (78.1%) patients attempted suicide for drawing attention. It was decided that patients were mostly admitted to the emergency service between 21:00 and 24:00 h after taking the drug. Furthermore, it was determined that as an analgesic type, paracetamol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) were most frequently taken. The number of suicide attempts with multiple drugs was higher than that with a single drug (57.7%). While 103 (51.24%) patients were discharged after emergency service intervention, 73 (36.3%) patients were admitted to various clinics. In emergency services, the most frequently observed the suicide method was taking drugs. Moreover, in the medicines analgesic intake frequency takes an important place within the drugs. Analgesics, particularly derivatives, including paracetamol and NSAID, were the preferred drug group in suicide attempts because of their easy availability in society.