Clinical Study on Psychiatric Morbidity in Suicide Attempters- A Observational Study

Abstract

Background: Suicide is a tragic and serious preventable public health problem all over the world. It is one of the three leading causes of death globally. Usually suicide has no single cause. It is the endpoint of an individual process, in which several cultural, social, situational, psychological, and biological factors interact. The objective of the current study is to evaluate the nature of psychiatric morbidity and it’s severity in patients who have attempted suicide, its relation to the socio-demographic and clinical variables and the particulars of the current attempt. Subjects and Methods: Fifty patients with alleged history of suicide attempt were evaluated. Tools used were Socio Economic Status Schedule, Suicide Intent Scale and Comprehensive Psychopathology Rating Scale. ICD 10-AM Symptom Check List was used to evaluate and find out psychiatric diagnosis and final diagnosis was made on the basis of ICD-10- Classification of mental and behavioral disorders, Diagnostic Criteria for Research (DCR-10). Results: Most subjects are in the age group of 18-30, married, Hindus, with a primary education, semi-skilled workers with average monthly income of more than 3000 rupees from a nuclear family of semi urban area and belong to SESS category III. Adjustment disorder with brief depressive reaction is the most common diagnosis made and the diagnosis has statistically significant relation with past attempt, recent stressors, and motive. Type of attempt, method used, venue, lethality, and medical complication of the attempt have significant relation with, substance dependence and its total duration, gender, medication history and total duration of symptoms. Suicide intent score is statistically related with gender, total duration of symptoms, family history, motive, venue and lethality. Conclusion: Significant proportions of the individuals who attempt suicide have psychiatric morbidity. Attempted suicide can be considered to be a distinct sub- group of psychiatric symptoms which is usually neglected but is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in subjects with psychiatric disorders. Patients who attempt suicide require special attention and management by all the medical professionals.