TY - JOUR PY - 2017// TI - Themes and trends in intentional self-poisoning: perspectives from critical care toxicology JO - Psychiatry research A1 - Rasimas, J. J. A1 - Smolcic, Erica E. A1 - Sinclair, Courtney M. SP - 304 EP - 313 VL - 255 IS - N2 - This research investigated the substances employed by and experiences of patients who come to acute treatment after self-poisoning. A retrospective search of the Toxicology Investigators Consortium Registry was performed to characterize a large cohort of patients. A detailed prospective study of one inpatient toxicology service was also conducted. Patients chose readily available agents for self-poisoning. Most cases involved at least one substance that affects the central nervous system (CNS). The majority were prescription psychotropics and narcotics. When they had access to both CNS-active and CNS-inactive medications, patients almost invariably ingested a mind-altering agent. After recovering neurocognitive function, most patients were not actively experiencing suicidal thoughts. However, more than half of patients without CNS toxicity continued to have suicidal ideation after coming to care. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that many suicidal patients may be seeking an altered psychosomatic state rather than death per se.

Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0165-1781 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2017.05.049 ID - ref1 ER -