*Loghman-Hakim Poison Hospital, Department of Forensic Medicine & Clinical Toxicology, Shahid Beheshti University, M.C.Tehran, Iran,
**Department of Forensic Medicine & Clinical Toxicology, Iran University of Medical Sciences,
***Tehran, Iran.
*For Corespondence: Dr. Abbas Aghabiklooei Assistant Professor of Clinical Toxicology and Forensic Medicine
One of the limitations in management of patients suffering from decreased level of consciousness due to drug poisoning is the inability to interview the patient. The aim of the present study was to compare characteristics of the two subgroups of these patients; those who had a suicidal attempt history with others.
In this case-control study, 19 patients with suicidal attempt history and 66 patients without this history were selected among patients who were admitted for drug poisoning to Loghman hospital in Tehran, Iran, in April and May 2008. When they patients were admitted, all of them had decreased level of consciousness due to unknown drug poisoning. Demographic and poisoning characteristics, past medical history and substance use history of the patients were recorded.
Suicidal attempt history had a significant association with the type of drugs used that led to poisoning (p=0.04). Psychological disorder history (p<0.01), Ingested tablet counts (p=0.020), time interval between drug ingestion and emergency medical service arrival (p=0.021), history of psychological disorders (p<0.001), intentional self poisoning (p=0.001), level of unconsciousness (p=0.046), no improvement in level of consciousness after primary emergency care (p=0.02) and need for advance emergency care (p=0.013) were significantly higher in patients with a suicidal attempt history than others. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age (p>0.05). Also suicide attempt history had no significant association with gender and history of illicit substance use (p>0.05). According to these findings, when dealing with patients suffering from decreased level of consciousness due to unknown drug poisoning, patients with suicidal attempt history need prominently more advanced care for treatment and recovery of consciousness level than patients with no such history. Therefore, paying attention to history of suicidal attempts in these patients can help medical professionals in determining more effective treatment options for them.
Drug Poisoning, Consciousness, Suicidal Attempt, Intentional
