This study reports on a cohort of 389 adult in-hospital parasuicides. The female to male ratio was 2,5:1,3. Age peaked between 20–29 years with a decline corresponding with age advance. An increase in and a lowering of age in parasuicide were found. Most patients were married and had a history and family history of psychological problems including inordinate drug/alcohol consumption. Self-poisoning by overdose predominated, with benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and non-narcotic analgesics being most common. A sex-linked difference in choice of method was evident. Adjustment disorders with depressed mood associated with interpersonal problems with a key person, substance abuse and social problems, and affective disorders were the most common psychiatric diagnoses. Increased subintentional parasuicide numbers were found. Results are discussed in terms of the implications these findings have for a clearer understanding of parasuicidal behaviour.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
American Psychiatric Association. (1980). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders III. Washington DC: APA.
2.
BancroftJ.ReynoldsF.SimkinS.SmithJ. (1975). Self-poisoning and self-injury in the Oxford area: Epidemiological aspects 1969–1973. British Journal of Preventive and Social Medicine, 29, 170–177.
3.
ChandrasenaR. (1981). A transcultural evaluation of self-poisoning in Sri Lanka. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 27, 119–123.
4.
CooperstockR. (1971). Sex differences in the use of mood-modifying drugs: An explanatory model. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 12, 238–244.
5.
FieldsendR.LowensteinE. (1981). Quarrels, separations and infidelity in the two days preceding self-poisoning episodes. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 54, 349–352.
6.
Fourth Annual Report. (1978). Department of Psychiatry, Addington Hospital, Durban.
7.
HawtonK.CatalanJ. (1982). Attempted suicide. A practical guide to its nature and management. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 6–35.
8.
KennedyP.KreitmanN. (1973). An epidemiological survey of parasuicide (attempted suicide) in general practice. British Journal of Psychiatry, 123, 23–34.
9.
KreitmanN. (Ed.). (1977). Parasuicide. London: John Wiley.
10.
MinnaarG.K.SchlebuschL.LevinA. (1980). A current study of parasuicide in Durban. South African Medical Journal, 57, 204–207.
11.
PowerK.G.CookeD.J.BrooksD.N. (1985). Life stress, medical lethality, and suicidal intent. British Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 655–659.
12.
PriestR.G.BeaumontG.RaptopoulosP. (1980). Suicide, attempted suicide and antidepressant drugs. Journal of International Medical Research, 8, Suppl 3, 8–13.
13.
SchlebuschL. (Ed). (1979). The vulnerable: Understanding and preventing suicide. Durban: Life Line, Natal Coastal Region.
14.
SchlebuschL. (1984). Current management of parasuicide. In CarlileJ.B. (Ed.), Update on psychiatric management. Proceedings of the 4th National South African Congress of Psychiatry, 1985. Durban: Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa (MASA), 159–169.
15.
SchlebuschL. (1985a). Self-destructive behaviour in adolescents. South African Medical Journal, 68, 792–795.
16.
SchlebuschL. (1985b). The aetiology of parasuicide in adolescents. Paper presented at the 5th National Congress of the Association of Child Psychology, Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg.
17.
SchlebuschL. (1986a). Short-term precipitants of parasuicide in adolescents. South African Medical Journal, 70, 165–167.
18.
SchlebuschL. (1986b). Comments on medical psychology and the etiology of adolescent parasuicides. Psychiatric Insight, 3, 3–6.
19.
SchlebuschL. (1987). Body-image and depression in females seeking augmentation mammaplasty. Contributions of medical psychology to a consultation-liaison psychiatric service. Paper presented at the 5th National South African Congress of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town.
20.
SchlebuschL.LevinA. (1983). A psychological profile of women selected for augmentation mammaplasty. South African Medical Journal, 64, 481–483.
21.
SchlebuschL.LuizH.A.BoschB.A.LevinA. (1986). On suicide in a South African general hospital psychiatric inpatient unit. South African Journal of Psychology, 16, 15–20.
22.
SchlebuschL.WesselsW.H. (1987). Hopelessness as a correlate of low-intent parasuicide. Paper presented at the 5th National South African Congress of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town.
23.
ShneidmanE. (1985). Definition of suicide. New York: John Wiley, 6–22.
24.
WeissJ.M.A. (1974). Suicide. In ArietiS. (Ed.), American handbook of psychiatry. New York: Basic Books, 743–765.
25.
WexlerL.WeissmanM.M.KaslS.V. (1978). Suicide attempts 1970–1975: Updating a United States study and comparisons with international trends. British Journal of Psychiatry, 132, 180–185.
