Profile of cases suspected of attempted suicide by exogenous intoxication

Abstract

Objective: To characterize the profile of patients suspected of attempting suicide, based on cases reported by the Toxicological Information Center of the University hospital of Southern Brazil.

Methods: This is a retrospective aggregate study, based on the analysis of medical records and files between January 2009 and December 2012, aiming to collect information that would create the profile of patients suspected of attempting suicide, from the cases notified by the Toxicological Information Center.

Results: Regarding the physical consequences and the danger of the suicide attempt, 97% of the suicide attempts did not present life threatening (n = 1,605); 85.4% were not referred to any professional service (n = 1,412). The year 2012 was the year with the highest number of suicide attempts that the other years.

Conclusions: It is considered important to improve the notification form for poisoning injuries, to better detect information about suicide attempts.