[Epidemiology of attempted suicide by drug overdose in Vienna]

We studied 361 Viennese patients (m = 111, f = 250) admitted to our observation ward after attempted suicide by drug ingestion over a two-year period. Age and sex distribution, social status, time of attempt, motives, and drugs used were documented, as well as the therapeutic management of the cases. The patients were divided into 4 age groups: 57 juveniles, 179 young adults, 80 middle-aged adults and 45 geriatric patients. These groups were compared with each other in manifold respects. Our analysis showed that the geriatric patients who had attempted suicide by drug ingestion differed from those of other groups insofar as there was a lack of exogenous influence with regard to motives and methods. They may represent a separate entity more akin to suicide than to attempted suicide. Vienna data on attempted suicide by drug ingestion did not differ markedly from international data.