The epidemiology of suicide attempts using drugs

Mateos Rodríguez AA, Huerta Arroyo A, Benito Vellisca MA

Background: Suicidal or autolytic attempts (SA, AA) represent one

of the most frequent causes for emergency calls in our environment.

Drugs are among the most frequent instruments selected

in and for SA / AA: in the year 2005, almost 1% of the emergency calls

within the Autonomous Community of Madrid (Spain) alerted about possible

drug-implemented SA / AA. The aim of the present study was to

assess the characteristics of this particular population.

Material and methods: Retrospective review of all clinical records over

four months (September to December 2005) with a final diagnosis of

“Drug-Implemented Autolytic Attempt”. The following variables were recorded

and analysed: age, gender, previous SA / AA, psychiatric conditions,

involved drug and ingested quantity, and implemented therapy.

Results: A total of 145 clinical records were reviewed and analysed.

Among this patient population, 65.8% were females. The age median

was 37 years. A previous SA / AA was recorded in 19.2% of the cases.

The most frequent associated psychiatric condition was depression / anxiety

disorder (43.4%), followed by drug dependency states (9%), psychotic

disorders (2.8%) and food intake disorders (1.4%). The most frequently

involved drug group were the benzodiazepines (57.6%),

followed by selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (7.9%). More precisely,

the most frequently involved single drug was lorazepam (15.1%), though

the variability was considerable. Flumazenil administration was the most

frequently used (52.1%) extrahospitalary therapeutic measure.

Conclusions: From our series it can be concluded that the patient most

frequently undertaking a SA / AA in our environment is a female, 20 to

40 years old, with a depressive / anxious disorders and with no foregoing

SA / AA. The drugs most frequently involved in such attempts

are the benzodiazepines and, evidently, the most frequently applied

therapeutic measure was flumazenil administration.

Benito Vellisca MA, Huerta Arroyo A, Mateos Rodríguez AA