Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (대한소아청소년정신의학회)
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Lethality-Associated Factors in Deliberate Self-Poisoning

  • Choi, In Young (Department of Psychiatry, Myongji Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Sun-Young (Department of Cancer Control and Population Health, Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center) ;
  • Chang, Jhin Goo (Department of Psychiatry, Myongji Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Song, Hoo Rim (Department of Psychiatry, Myongji Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Woo Jung (Department of Psychiatry, Yongin Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Su Young (Department of Psychiatry, Myongji Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Hyun-Soo (Department of Psychiatry, Myongji Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Hong, Minha (Department of Psychiatry, Myongji Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine)
  • Received : 2020.08.19
  • Accepted : 2020.10.08
  • Published : 2021.01.01
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Abstract

Objectives: Deliberate self-poisoning (DSP) is the most common suicide method and can be life-threatening. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors related to the lethality of DSP and the characteristics of the adolescent group. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients who had visited an academic hospital's regional emergency medical center between 2015 and 2018. The data reviewed through their medical records included sociodemographic factors, clinical variables, and psychiatric treatment. Four groups (Q1-Q4) were categorized by descriptive analysis using the risk-rescue rating scale. Results: A total of 491 patients were enrolled in this study. This study showed that high lethality had statistically significant associations with male sex, older age, admitting suicidal intentions, and the use of herbicides for suicide. Logistic regression analyses showed a significant association between high-lethality and female [odds ratio (OR)=0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.30-0.81, p=0.01], non-psychiatric drugs (over-the-counter drug: OR=2.49, 95% CI=1.08-5.74, p=0.03; herbicide: OR=8.65, 95% CI=3.91-19.13, p<0.01), and denial of suicide intent (OR=0.28, 95% CI=0.15-0.55, p<0.01). Conclusion: This study showed the clinical factors associated with the high lethality of DSP and suggested that efforts were needed to care for and thoroughly examine patients with DSP.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study was supported by the Bumsuk Academic Research Fund in 2019. Part of the study results was presented as a poster at the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association's regional meeting on October 18, 2019.

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