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- Title
Non-suicidal deaths following hospital-treated self-poisoning.
- Authors
Carter, Greg; Reith, David M.; Whyte, Ian M.; McPherson, Michelle
- Abstract
To quantify the non-suicidal mortality subsequent to hospital treated self-poisoning, and to identify risk factors for non-suicidal death.A prospective longitudinal cohort design was used, with data-linkage between the Hunter Area Toxicology Service database and the National Death Index. All patients with deliberate self-poisoning for a 10-year period (1991−2000) were studied and the first episode in the period was used as the index episode. The outcomes were: accidental,‘natural’ and non-suicidal death, with follow-up for the study duration.There were 4044 patients studied, and 170 (4.2%) of these had non-suicidal death; 64 were accidental and 106 were‘natural’ cause deaths. The standardized mortality ratio (95% CI) for non-suicidal death for males, females and combined were 4.98 (4.08−6.07), 3.78 (3.0−4.75) and 4.20 (3.62−4.88), respectively. The increased mortality was apparent for both males and females, and was more marked in the younger age groups. For non-suicidal death the adjusted hazard ratio (95% CI) for increased risk were: increasing age 1.07 (1.06−1.08), male gender 1.77 (1.24−2.52), psychiatric diagnosis of substance related disorder 1.49 (1.03−2.16), prescription of a respiratory drug 2.69 (1.31−5.55), and prescription of an anti-diabetic drug 1.95 (0.93−4.07), while psychiatric diagnosis of adjustment disorder 0.64 (0.38−1.053) was associated with decreased risk.Patients who present with self-poisoning have increased mortality from accidental and‘natural’ causes. Long-term treatment goals for these patients need to address non-suicide mortality in addition to suicide mortality.
- Subjects
SELF-poisoning; MORTALITY; SUICIDE risk factors; PSYCHIATRIC diagnosis; PATHOLOGICAL psychology; MEDICAL care
- Publication
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 2005, Vol 39, Issue 1/2, p101
- ISSN
0004-8674
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1080/j.1440-1614.2005.01515.x