TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2008//
TI  - Self-poisoning by drugs and chemicals: Variations in demographics, associated factors and final outcomes
JO  - General hospital psychiatry
A1  - Fathelrahman, Ahmed I.
A1  - Ab Rahman, Ab Fatah
A1  - Mohd Zain, Zaininah
SP  - 467
EP  - 470
VL  - 30
IS  - 5
N2  - OBJECTIVE: Drug overdose exposures were compared with chemical poisoning in terms of demographics, associated factors and final outcomes. METHOD: Deliberate self-poisoning (DSP) cases admitted to Penang General Hospital during the years 2000-2004 were studied. Chi-square, independent t-test and binary logistic were used whenever applicable. RESULTS: Indian patients were more likely to use household products, whereas Malay and Chinese patients were more likely to take drug overdoses (P=.001). Drug overdose victims experienced more socioeconomic problems (P=.05) and were more likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit (P=.052). Chemical poisoning patients presented earlier (P=.011), were hospitalized for shorter time (P=.001) and had a higher rate of mortality (P=.01). CONCLUSION: The present study has identified a unique ethnic variation in the choice of suicide attempts from toxic substances. DSP associated with drug overdose showed significant morbidity, but increased mortality was seen in chemical poisoning.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0163-8343
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2008.04.004
ID  - ref1
ER  -