Journal of Clinical Toxicology
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0495
+44 1478 350008
ISSN: 2161-0495
+44 1478 350008
M. S. Bhatia and N. K. Aggarwal
Accepted Abstracts: J Clinic Toxicol
S uicide is a common cause of death all over the world. It is the second commonest cause of death in youth after road traffic accidents. It may be defined as an act of self-inflicted, self-intentioned taking of one?s own life. There have been very few studies in the capital city of India analyzing the method, etiology and psychiatric profile of cases attempting suicide by consuming organophosphorus compounds. 50 consecutive cases of attempted suicide brought to the emergency unit of the hospital and admitted subsequently in the medicine ward were taken up for the study. They were evaluated for psychosocial, situational, and clinical risk factors. There were 34 females and 16 males. 20 to 25 years were the commonest age-group (56%) followed by 26 to 30 years (24%). The common symptoms were nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and cramps, salivation, cough, dyspnea, weakness, fasciculations, anxiety, disorientation tremors, palpitations and sweating. They were managed by gastric lavage, maintenance of vitals, and by giving atropine, oximes and benzodiazepines. Mixed anxiety and depressive disorder was commonest psychiatric illness (32%) followed by unipolar depression (24%), adjustment disorder with depressive features (20%) and generalized anxiety disorder (12%). 12% did not have a psychiatric disorder. Repeat attempters (34%) had a family history of psychiatric illness and suicide, recent trauma, had experienced stressful life events and had expressed suicidal ideas. Factors like young age, family history of psychiatric disorders, current psychiatric illness, communication of suicidal ideas, the use of physical methods, and high potential attempts differentiated repeaters significantly from the first-timers. Major physical illness, family and partner conflicts, financial problems, and failure in examinations were more frequent life events
M. S. Bhatia has completed his M.D. from Delhi University. He is a senior Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatry in University College of Medical Sciences, a tertiary care premier institute under University of Delhi in the capital city of India. He is also Head, Department of Psychiatry, University of Delhi (having 8 teaching medical institutions), chairman, Committee of Courses (Psychiatry) and chairman, M.Phil Committee, University of Delhi. He has authored over 20 books and more than 175 papers in reputed journals. He is currently editor of Delhi Psychiatry Journal (Official publication of Delhi Psychiatric Society) and is on editorial board of many international and national journals