Citation

Rygnestad TK, Fagerhaug O. Tidsskr. Nor. Laegeforen. 2004; 124(21): 2736-2739.

Vernacular Title

Akutte selvpaforte forgiftninger i Trondheims-omradet 1978-2002.

Affiliation

Anestesiavdelingen St. Olavs Hospital 7006 Trondheim og Institutt for laboratoriemedisin, barne- og kvinnesykdommer Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet tarjei.rygnestad@medisin.ntnu.no.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Norske Laegeforening)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

15534662

Abstract

BACKGROUND:. Deliberte self-poisoning is a big health problem. We wanted to study if there had been changes in drug use, morbidity and mortality in this group over the last 25 years in our hospital's catchment area. MATERIAL AND METHODS:. In this study, 924 patients admitted to our hospital after deliberate self-poisoning in 1978, 1987 and 2002 were studied prospectively. RESULTS:. From 1978 to 1987, there was a significant increase in the incidence of self-poisoning followed by a decline from 1987 to 2002 among both men and women. The age distribution remained the same. Benzodiazepines were the most commonly used drugs during the whole period (20 % of patients in 1978, 39 % in 1987, and 30 % in 2002). There has been a significant reduction in the use of acetylsalicylic acid, tricyclic antidepressants and a significant increase in paracetamol and selective serofonin reuptake inhibitor poisonings. The use of gastric lavage and activated charcoal declined. The main antidote in 1978 was physostigmine, in 1987 and 2002 n-acetyl cysteine. During the whole period, complications (usually minor) were recorded in approximately 10 % of cases. In 1978, mortality was 1.3 %, in 1987 0.9 %; no patient died in 2002. INTERPRETATION:. The incidence of deliberate self-poisoning has fallen over the last 25 years. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have to a large extent replaced tricyclic antidepressants and paracetamol has replaced acetylsalicylic acid.