Suicidally motivated intoxication by psychoactive drugs: characterization among the elderly

Abstract

Objective: to characterize suicidally motivated intoxication by psychoactive drugs among elderly people. Method: a retrospective and documentary study with a quantitative approach was carried out, based on the notification forms of 692 cases of suicidally motivated intoxications by psychoactive drugs, registered by the Centro de Assistência Toxicológica (the Toxicological Care Center) in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil from 2010 to 2014. The absolute and relative frequencies of social conditions, intoxication episodes and clinical conducts were obtained, and the Chi-squared Test was applied with a significance of p≤0.05. Results: elderly people aged between 60 and 69 years (65.9%), who were female and retired predominated. The most frequently used psychoactive drugs were antidepressants (48.3%) and anxiolytics/hypnotics (29.0%). The most frequent clinical conducts were the use of activated charcoal and gastric lavage. Moderate poisoning was the most frequent, and the main outcome was discharge arising from cure. There was a significant relationship between the elderly persons and gender, occupation, occurrence of intoxication at home, clinical manifestation and hospital admission. Conclusion: suicidally motivated poisoning by psychoactive drugs in elderly persons suggests the need to promote active aging, as well as the access to and rational use of these drugs, thereby reducing harm and preserving the lives of elderly persons.

Suicídio entre idosos no Brasil: uma revisão de literatura dos últimos 10 anos

“…Prevenção e Cuidados para o Idoso Carvalho et al (2017) falam que manter programas de assistência ao idoso com motivação suicida devam medidas prioritárias, como por meio da psicoterapia, a qual poder-se-á influenciar o comportamento, humor e padrões emocionais, podendo ressignificar o envelhecimento e assim diminuindo motivação suicida.…”

“…No Brasil o suicídio arrebata números cada vez maiores, com atenção maior a população idosa, segundo o que aponta estudos voltados para obtenção de dados e formação de uma dimensão geográfica nacional sobre suicídio entre idosos (Carvalho, Lôbo, Aguiar & Campos, 2017;Minayo & Cavalcante, 2010;Sérvio & Cavalcante, 2013). Compreender o impacto social do suicídio na sociedade atual é uma forma de sanar dores que perpassam ao ato e acompanham as pessoas envoltas aos indivíduos suicidas para Sérvio e Cavalcante (2013).…”

“…Doenças crônicas contribuem para que o idoso formule no suicídio escape. O volume de medicamentos ingeridos e os impedimentos devido a fragilidade física e de saúde mostram-se alinhadas a intenção e ideação suicida Carvalho et al (2017). alertam quanto ao uso de psicofármacos constante, quando os usos de tais medicamentos afetam aspectos mentais e emocionais entre os idosos.…”

“…Minayo et al (2012b) trazem que se encontram poucas obras na literatura nacional sobre o tema suicídio em idosos Carvalho et al (2017). corroboram que o suicídio é um caso de saúde pública mundial com números elevados entre idosos em países como China (maior proporção mundial), Estados Unidos e Coréia do Norte.…”

Suicide in the elderly: approach to social determinants of health in the Dahlgren and Whitehead model

“…This scenario points to a need of understanding the determinants for the occurrence of suicide in the elderly, especially considering that those are commonly related to a wide network of social and cultural aspects of the individuals themselves and their families (1,5) .…”