Premium
PII‐77
Author(s) -
Finkelstein Y.,
Sivilotti M. L.,
Lam K.,
Koren G.,
Juurlink D. N.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1016/j.clpt.2005.12.202
Subject(s) - self poisoning , poison control , human factors and ergonomics , medicine , injury prevention , suicide prevention , medical emergency , emergency medicine
BACKGROUND We conducted a longitudinal study of repeat deliberate self‐poisoning (DSP) in a population of 12.6 million. The agents used for DSP were identified and the temporal relationship between index and subsequent episodes was explored. METHODS We identified all admissions for a first episode of DSP in Ontario between 1993–2003. Data extracted include demographics, medical and psychiatric history and pharmaceutical agents used. Repeat DSP was identified up to 11 years following index admission. RESULTS Of 26,110 patients admitted with a first episode of DSP, 2836 (10.9%) were eventually readmitted for DSP. Subjects who did not repeat DSP used acetaminophen (26.0%), salicilates (5.1%), and antiallergic/antiemetics (3.8%) for first DSP significantly more than those who repeated DSP (18.9%, 3.5%, 2.7%, respectively; p<0.001). Subjects who repeated DSP used benzodiazepines (18.6%), antidepressants (17.5%) and anticonvulsant agents (4.0%) for first DSP significantly more than those who did not (15.0%, 14.6%, 2.6%, respectively; p<0.0001). Median time to readmission for DSP was 423 days; 10.6% of episodes occurred >5yrs after the initial admission. Death rate was 4‐fold higher in the DSP group compared to matched controls. CONCLUSIONS One in 9 patients hospitalized for DSP are eventually admitted with another episode, and more than half of these occur more than a year after the index admission. Acetaminophen, benzodiazepines, and antidepressants were the most commonly involved substances. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2005) 79 , P56–P56; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2005.12.202