Attempted Suicide by Drug Overdose

Abstract

In the hands of depressed persons, prescriptions for sedative-hypnotic agents and psychotherapeutic drugs can be instruments of suicide. The prescription drugs used most often are the barbiturates. The profile of the high-risk patient is becoming clearer.

Signs of an impending suicidal attempt are usually more overt in the adult than in the teen-ager, but teen-agers at risk may show abrupt behavioral changes.

Physicians must heed warning signals and deny the patient the means for attempting suicide.