Suicidally motivated intoxication by psychoactive drugs: characterization among the elderly

Abstract

Abstract Objective: to characterize suicidally motivated intoxication by psychoactive drugs among elderly people. Method: a retrospective and documentary study with a quantitative approach was carried out, based on the notification forms of 692 cases of suicidally motivated intoxications by psychoactive drugs, registered by the Centro de Assistência Toxicológica (the Toxicological Care Center) in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil from 2010 to 2014. The absolute and relative frequencies of social conditions, intoxication episodes and clinical conducts were obtained, and the Chi-squared Test was applied with a significance of p≤0.05. Results: elderly people aged between 60 and 69 years (65.9%), who were female and retired predominated. The most frequently used psychoactive drugs were antidepressants (48.3%) and anxiolytics/hypnotics (29.0%). The most frequent clinical conducts were the use of activated charcoal and gastric lavage. Moderate poisoning was the most frequent, and the main outcome was discharge arising from cure. There was a significant relationship between the elderly persons and gender, occupation, occurrence of intoxication at home, clinical manifestation and hospital admission. Conclusion: suicidally motivated poisoning by psychoactive drugs in elderly persons suggests the need to promote active aging, as well as the access to and rational use of these drugs, thereby reducing harm and preserving the lives of elderly persons.

Keywords

• Suicide Attempted
• Psychotropic Drugs
• Comprehensive Health Care for the Elderly.