RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The number of suicides has been increasing worldwide, year after year, becoming the fourth leading cause of death among young people between 15 and 29 years of age. AIM: In this study, we explored the frequency and characteristics of suicides among the adult general population in Paraguay between 2004 and 2022, considering that suicide attempts and suicidal risk/ideation are frequent and relevant issues in the consultation activity, even if epidemiological evidence on the national rates of suicide is scarce. METHODS: In this observational, descriptive, and exploratory study, official records of all deaths by suicide were reviewed and information analyzed. In addition, an attempt was made to predict the number of suicides in the next 5 years according to a mathematical modeling. RESULTS: In the 18-year period, 5,527 suicides of adults were recorded. Patients' mean age was 36.8 ± 17 years old. A 76.77% of them were males, 77.44% were from an urban area and 25.98% from the Greater Asunción and Central Department of Paraguay. The most frequently used method of suicide was intentional self-inflicted injury by hanging, strangulation, or suffocation (all 67.6%). The expected number of national suicides in the following years from 2023 to 2027 will range between 462 and 530. Limitations include the lack of information regarding diagnoses and personal history in the suicide reports as well as the possibility of underreporting of national suicide cases. CONCLUSION: Our results represent the first large national epidemiological report of suicides in Paraguay and may be of interest for mental health professionals and health authorities in order to reduce the suicide mortality rate within the country.
Assuntos
Transtornos Mentais , Comportamento Autodestrutivo , Masculino , Humanos , Adulto , Adolescente , Adulto Jovem , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Feminino , Paraguai/epidemiologia , Tentativa de Suicídio , Transtornos Mentais/epidemiologia , Ideação SuicidaRESUMO
Los trastornos mentales en la población infanto juvenil son motivo de preocupación para los organismos de salud, siendo más evidente en tiempos de pandemia. El presente trabajo se centró en el objetivo de describir la epidemiologia de casos de trastorno mental en la población infanto juvenil del Servicio de Urgencias del Hospital Psiquiátrico de Asunción Paraguay, entre 2020 y 2021. La metodología fue de un estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo de corte trasversal, aplicado a 135 niños y adolescentes que estuvieron internados durante el periodo de estudio, mediante la revisión de historias clínicas. Los principales resultados fueron: 60% mujeres, 96% adolescentes, disminución del 10% en las consultas en el 2021 en comparación al 2020, los principales motivos de consulta fueron el cambio conductual 40%, auto agresividad 27% y agresividad/irritabilidad 22%, 42% presentó antecedentes patológicos familiares, 23% requirió internación, 73% contó con un diagnóstico psiquiátrico, las cinco principales patologías psiquiátricas en la muestra fueron la depresión mayor 21%, trastornos de la personalidad 16%, trastorno psicótico breve 13%, trastornos por consumo de múltiples sustancias 13% y psicosis no orgánica sin especificación 11%. El maltrato se presentó en el 7,4% y de ellos el 90% fueron mujeres. Con el trabajo se evidenció que los trastornos mentales en esta población cuentan con características similares a las de otras investigaciones relacionadas al tema en lo referido a sexo, motivo de consulta, patologías frecuentes y maltrato; siendo una de las principales la relacionada con los trastornos de la conducta.
Mental disorders in the child and adolescent population are a matter of concern for health agencies, being more evident in times of pandemic. The present work focused on the objective of describing the epidemiology of cases of mental disorders in the child and adolescent population, in the Emergency Service of the Psychiatric Hospital of Asunción Paraguay, between 2020 and 2021. The methodology was a quantitative study, descriptive cross-sectional study, applied to 135 children and adolescents who were hospitalized during the study period, by reviewing medical records. The main results were: 60% women, 96% adolescents, 10% decrease in consultations in 2021 compared to 2020, the main reasons for consultation were behavior change 40%, self-aggression 27% and aggressiveness/irritability 22%, 42% had a family pathological history: 23% required hospitalization, 73% had a psychiatric diagnosis. The five main psychiatric conditions in the sample were major depression 21%, personality disorders 16%, brief psychotic disorder 13%, multi-substance use disorders 13%, and non-organic psychosis 11%. Abuse occurred in 7.4% and 90% of them were women. With the work it was evidenced that mental disorders in this population have similar characteristics to those of other investigations related to the subject in relation to sex, reason for consultation, frequent pathologies and abuse; being one of the main ones related to conduct disorders.