Citation

Lee E, Leung CM. Gen. Hosp. Psychiatry 2008; 30(6): 561-563.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong. elee@cuhk.edu.hk

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2008.09.001

PMID

19061683

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This naturalistic retrospective cohort study explored the demographic and clinical factors associated with psychiatric and medical morbidities among patients with suicide attempts by burning charcoal. METHOD: We conducted a follow-up study of 69 cases with charcoal-burning suicide attempts in two general hospitals. The associations between demographic, clinical characteristics and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: The presence of past psychiatric treatment, past history of suicide attempt and physical complications were associated with the occurrence of psychiatric morbidity after the index suicide attempt. Loss of consciousness and abnormal blood acidity were associated with medical morbidity after the index admission. CONCLUSION: Psychiatric and medical morbidities are common among charcoal-burning suicide attempts and identified clinical factors associated with these problems may be useful in its management.

Language: en