Repetition of self-poisoning and subsequent death in adolescents who take overdoses

Hospital Activity Analysis data and record linkage were used to investigate repetition of self-poisoning, and deaths, among 2,492 people, aged 12 to 20 years, who took overdoses between 1974 and 1978. Repetition occurred most frequently during the first few months after an initial admission; 9.5% of patients repeated within the study period (mean follow-up of 2.8 years). Ten of the 2,492 subjects died during the study period, and the average annual death rate in the cohort was approximately four times higher than the national average annual death rate in this age-group as a whole. Six of the deaths were probably suicides. Repetition and suicide rates were highest among males aged 16 to 20 years.