Suicide by poisoning: a preliminary epidemiological report - abstract

ABSTRACT

A preliminary, retrospective, consecutive, epidemiological study was conducted on 270 patients who died in the General Hospital, Port-of-Spain after presenting with deliberate self-poisoning between January, 1986 and June, 1990. The cause of death was confirmed by autopsy and toxicological analysis. Epidemiological variables of age, sex, race, precipitating events/factors and type of poison used were assessed. It was found that the male to female ratio was 2.71. East Indians accounted for 54.4 percent, Africans 42.0 percent, people of mixed race 3 percent and Caucasians 0.6 percent. The 11-34 year age group contributed 52.6 percent, the 35-64 year age group 40.7 percent and the over 65 6.7 percent. Lovers' quarrels were most frequently reported as the precipitating event (35.4 percent), followed by a diagnosed psychiatric illness (27.8 percent) and family disputes (27 percent). East Indians predominated in those suicides precipitated by lovers' quarrels (63 percent) and family disputes (58 percent). Among suicides involving a person with a diagnosed psychiatric illness, there were more Africans (53 percent) than East Indians (45 percent). Depression was the most common psychiatric illness diagnosed. Paraquat was the most popular poison used, accounting for 63 percent of the suicide cases (AU)