Suicides resulting in death by poisoning among patients referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Kermanshah (2007-10)

Background: Poisoning is one of the most common causes of reference to hospitalization in the Emergency wards of hospitals. Thus, studying and investigating the occurrence of death as the results of poisoning can have a significant role in decision making and improving vital standards to prevent or decrease its occurrence.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study all cases of suicides resulting in death referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital (intentional or accidental) during 4 years, 86 to 89 were studied. Information such as age, gender, year of death, residence, cause of death and type of poisoning was recorded.

Results: Of 169 cases reviewed, 57% of cases committing suicide has been used poisoning materials. In 33 percent of cases, poison was the cause of death, 31 percent drugs were the cause of death and in 24 percent of cases toxic drugs were the cause of death. Among 95 cases, 69/5 cases were men. There was a statistically significant relationship between gender and cause of suicide. Among individuals committing suicide, 68 cases (71/6) were less than 35 years old and there was statistically meaningful relationship between age group and cause of suicide.

Conclusion: As a lot of cases committing suicide are among individuals who referred to Poisoning Ward of hospitals and belong to low age group, paying too much attention to mental health of people and making appropriate decision to prevent poisoning (specially poisoning which leads to suicide) seems to be of great significance.