Changing patterns of self-poisoning in a UK health district

Details of admissions to a dedicated district poisons treatment unit in South Glamorgan were analysed to assess changes in self-poisoning patterns between 1987-1988 and 1992-1993. Self-poisoning rates increased in both men and women, with male rates showing a relatively larger increase, resulting in a fall in female to male ratio for person-based rates from 1.33:1 to 1.13:1. The highest age-specific rates in both period were found in 15-19-year-old females. Paracetamol was the most commonly ingested poison in 1992-1993, with 43.4% of episodes involving its use, compared with 31.3% of episodes in 1987-88. Antidepressant involvement in self-poisoning also increased from 11.3% of episodes in 1987-1988 to 17.6% of episodes in 1992-1993. Repetition of self-poisoning was relatively common, with 18% of admissions per year in 1992-1993 representing repeats. Although hospital admission increased in this health district over the study periods, this was not reflected in an increase in in-patient all-cause mortality, which was only 0.5% in 1987-1988 and 0.1% in 1992-1993.