Self-inflicted burns in Athens, Greece: a six-year retrospective study

Self-inflicted burns represent a major social and medical problem. The aim of this study was to record the epidemiology, mortality and etiology of suicide attempts by burning, in Athens, Greece. Over a 6-year period from April 1997 to April 2003, all the medical charts of the patients who were admitted to the Burn Center of the General State Hospital of Athens, Greece, with self-inflicted burns were retrospectively studied. Of the 1435 burn patients, 53 (3.69%) had attempted suicide by self-inflicted burn. Their ages ranged from 18 to 90 years old (mean 53.5 years). Females (57%) outnumbered males (43%). The mean total body surface area (TBSA) burned was 41.6% (range: 15-100%). The overall mortality rate was very high (75.4%). A preexisting psychiatric disorder was present in 43.3% of the patients. In conclusion, the extent and the depth of the burn injuries could explain the high mortality rate seen in these patients, in correlation with their negativism to the treatment. Burn care professionals should be familiar with self-inflicted burn patients who constitute a considerable proportion of major burns and require constant psychiatric support in addition to burn care.