Psychiatric emergencies : Factors associated with suicide attempts

Among psychiatric emergencies, suicide attempt is a frequent reason for consultation. The magnitude of this phenomenon is not only related to its increasing frequency or life-threatening, but also to the psychosocial consequences of suicidal gesture both on the patient and his entourage.

To determine the prevalence of suicide attempts in psychiatric emergency department patients and to identify associated factors.

This is a cross-sectional study carried out in the emergency department of Mahdia University Hospital during a three months period, including consultants for whom a psychiatric opinion was solicited. Regarding statistical analyzes, we studied associations between suicide attempt and sociodemographic, contextual, anamnestic and clinical variables.

Forty-four suicidal patients were included, with a prevalence of 0.5% of all emergencies. The patients mean age was 26.6 years with a female predominance (sex ratio = 0.29). Self-induced intoxication was the most widely used method (93.2%). Reactional suicidal attempts accounted for 75%. Many factors were significantly associated with suicide attempts: young age, female gender, secondar y level of education, students, presence of trigger factor, family and personal history of suicide attempt and the provenance of the examination request from a physician.

This  study highlights  a particular  profile  of patients at  high  risk  of suicide,   a codified action is to begin, including all health care providers to prevent  its  occurrence. This primary prevention is only possible through  the  identification of  risk  factors  associated with it.