Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Suicide Attempt to a Training and Research Hospital Emergency Department; A Retrospective Study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Suicide attempt is an important risk factor for completed suicide. Determining risky cases for suicide attempts is important in terms of protective and preventive approach. In this study, we aimed to investigate the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of suicide attempted patients who applied to our emergency department. METHODS: This study was carried out retrospective analysis of emergency medical clinic suicide attempt enrollment form and psychiatric consultations of 257 patients who applied to our emergency department for the purpose of suicide attempt between September 2014 and December 2015. RESULTS: 156 cases (60.7%) were women and 101 (39.3%) cases were males. 42.8% were in the age range of 15-24 years and 51% were bachelor. 42.4% were unemployed and 136 (52.9%) were primary school graduates. In 30 cases (11.7%), there was recurrent suicide attempt. The most common psychiatric diagnosis was depression (n =14, 5.4%), The marriage rate of women was higher than that of men (p<.000). There was no difference between the genders in terms of recurrent suicide attempts (p> 0.057). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Suicide attempts are more common in young, low-educated and married women. Psychosocial interventions for those groups that are at risk for suicide attempts are important to prevent suicide attempts and completed suicides.

Keywords

• emergency service
• suicide
• risk factors