Archives of Mental Health (Jan 2014)
Descriptive psychiatric profile of patients presenting with overdose in an inner city hospital
Abstract
Background: The risk faced by elderly people living in Great Britain of accidentally harming themselves by taking potentially lethal mixtures of medicines is high which was found in the survey of 695 people aged between 78 and 86 years old, living in 24 sheltered housing complexes in Scotland. Aim: To find out the profile of patients attending an inner city hospital after taking overdose which would in turn help understanding of the reasoning for overdose. Method: The socio-demographic profile of adults attending the inner city hospital in the United Kingdom was recorded and studied for over dose. It was a retrospective study with recordings from the medical case notes during admission in January 2008 – January 2009 who were brought to the accident and emergency department. Results: Average age of 48.67 years with more number of males (n=17) compared to females (n=13), predominantly White British (76.7%) individuals attempted overdose. Out of the sample studied 86% were found to be deliberate overdose, intent to die was recorded to be present in 63.3%. Multiple reasons for overdose were predominant (40%) which includes relationship difficulties, pain, debts, feeling low / depressed, argument, bereavement and stress. Types of medication for overdose, recording made in medical notes regarding overdose has also been studied. Conclusion: There is a significant psychiatric morbidity among patients who overdose and appropriate psychiatric liaison services are needed to manage patients. Further studies focusing on the patterns of overdose, timing, medication prescriptions and age of patients are necessary to further explore the understanding of overdose.
