Abstract:
Background: The objective was to study the sociodemographic data, psychiatric
disorder, precipitating events, and mode of attempt in suicide attempted patients
referred to consultation liaison psychiatric services. Settings and Design: A prospective
study of 6-month duration was done in a tertiary care center in India. Materials and
Methods: During the 6-month period all referrals were screened for the presence of
suicide attempters in consultation liaison services. Those who fulfilled the criteria
for suicide attempters were evaluated by using semistructured pro forma containing
sociodemographic data, precipitating events, mode of attempt, and psychiatric diagnosis
by using ICD-10. Results: The male-to-female ratio was similar. Adult age, urban
background, employed, matriculation educated were more represented in this study.
More than 80% of all attempters had psychiatric disorder. Majority had a precipitating
event prior to suicide attempt. The most common method of attempt was by use of
corrosive. Conclusions: Majority of suicide attempter patients had mental illness. Early
identification and treatment of these disorders would have prevented morbidity and
mortality associated with this. There is a need of proper education of relatives about
keeping corrosive and other poisonous material away from patients as it was being
commonest mode of attempt.
