Analyses of Suicide Victims Admitted via the Emergency Department -Based on Psychiatric Histories, Past Suicidal Attempts and Psychiatric Diagnoses-

응급실을 경유하여 입원한 자살시도자들의 분석 -정신병력, 자살시도력 및 정신과적 진단을 중심으로-

Purpose: This study analyzed the general features, psychiatric histories, past suicidal attempts and psychiatric diagnoses of suicide victims admitted via the emergency department (ED). Methods: Reviewing the charts of 138 inpatients of suicide attempts admitted via the ED from January 2002 to December 2003, we analyzed various data, including sex, age, season, stressful events, psychiatric histories, previous suicidal attempts, and psychiatric diagnoses during admission, and we used a chi-square test to chart the statistical data. Results: A significant difference was found between 1 st attempts and repeated attempts as to the mechanical methods used for the suicide attempts, There was a significant difference in the kinds of drugs between patients with and without psychiatric histories. In the psychiatric diagnosis, there was a significant difference in AXIS I between patients with and without psychiatric histories. In AXIS II, there was a significant difference between patients with and without psychiatric histories, 1st attempts and repeated attempts. Conclusion: We emphasize the importance of psychiatric consults, treatments, and follow-ups for suicide victims and the emergency physicians' function in helping them to contact psychiatric doctors.