Related Experiment Videos
Self-poisoning patients in an intensive care unit
Annals of Clinical Research
|April 1, 1981
Summary
This study analyzed 147 self-poisoning cases in an intensive care unit (ICU). Alcohol and psychiatric medications were common, with most patients recovering, but psychiatric aftercare is crucial for suicide prevention.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Psychiatry
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Self-poisoning is a significant public health issue.
- Understanding the epidemiology and clinical features of self-poisoning cases is vital for effective management.
- Intensive care units (ICUs) manage severe poisoning cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the characteristics of 147 self-poisoning cases admitted to an ICU over one year.
- To identify common substances involved, clinical presentations, and outcomes.
- To inform strategies for preventing future suicide attempts.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 147 self-poisoning cases admitted to an ICU.
- Data collection on demographics, substances ingested, clinical status on admission, treatments, and outcomes.
- Review of preceding psychiatric disorders and reasons for poisoning.
Main Results:
- Alcohol was the most frequent poison (52%), followed by neuroleptics (37%), anxiolytics (28%), hypnotics (27%), antidepressants (16%), and analgesics (13%).
- On admission, 25% of patients were hypotensive, and 25% had cardiac arrhythmias. Carbon dioxide retention occurred in 28% of cases.
- Three patients died; alcoholism was common in men, depression in women. Psychiatric aftercare was recommended for two-thirds of patients.
Conclusions:
- Self-poisoning cases admitted to ICUs often involve alcohol and psychiatric medications.
- While most patients survive, critical condition on admission and substance quantity influence mortality.
- Establishing psychiatric services in general hospitals is recommended to reduce suicide attempts.