Assessment the role of effective variables in repeated suicidal attempts

Backgraound: Repeated suicidal attempts are common in patients with drug and chemical poisoning. This study was conducted at poisoning referral hospitals in Tehran to determine the role of different factors in repeated suicide attempts with drug and chemical agents.

In this case-control study, 19 subjects with a history of previous suicidal attempts, (cases) and 54 individuals without this history, (controls) were selected from patients admitted with drug poisoning in the poisoning referral hospitals in Tehran, from August to October 2009. We matched the two groups regarding age, gender and level of consciousness. Demographics, poisoning characteristics, past medical history and substance use history of the patients were recorded. SPSS version 16, variable bit SD indicators, qualitative variables and frequency tables for the comparison between the two groups Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis..

History of mental illness, (100%, 0.01> P), mean of number of tablets ingested (N=40), interval between drug consumption and emergency forces to reach the place (4±2.1 h), history of deliberate self poisoning (100%, P =0.001), failed resuscitation efforts in comatose patients, (51%, P =0.02) and the need for intensive care and follow-up,(37%, P=0.013) were higher in patients with a history of previous suicide attempts compared with the control group. Also, previous history of attempted suicide with drugs was associated with decreased level of consciousness, (P =0.04).

Patients with drug poisoning and a history of previous attempted suicide are at high risk for morbidity and mortality, needing special management strategies.