6
Views
1
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original

Repetition risk for adolescent self-poisoning: a multiple event survival analysis

, &
Pages 212-218 | Received 10 Apr 2002, Accepted 24 Sep 2002, Published online: 07 Aug 2009
 

Abstract

Objectives: To examine risk factors associated with re-presentation (event rates) following an initial episode of hospital treated self-poisoning.

Method: A longitudinal cohort study using the Hunter Area Toxicology Service (HATS) database of all presentations to hospital of self-poisoned patients aged 10–19 in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Regions of New South Wales from January 1991 to December 1995. The study factors were: age, gender, employment status, ‘substance abuse’ and psychiatric diagnosis at index (first documented episode during the study time-period) admission. The main outcome measure was re-presentations per unit time. Time-event analysis (multivariate) was used to compare re-presentation rates per person-year exposure to the study factors.

Results: There were 450 patients who presented on a total of 551 occasions. The median and modal age at initial presentation was 17. Three hundred and nine (69%) were female and 141 (31%) were male. The probability (95% CI) of a patient re-presenting within one year of an index admission with self poisoning was 0.09 (0.07–0.12) and within 5 years was 0.16 (0.12–0.21). The adjusted rate ratios for episodes of re-presentation were: any ‘substance abuse (ever)’ 3.87 (2.08–7.21), ‘alcohol abuse’ 2.32 (1.15–4.68),‘benzodiazepine abuse’ 4.89 (1.63–14.62), schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders (DSM-IV) 2.85 (1.2–6.79), and any personality disorder (DSM-IV) 2.68 (1.73–4.16).

Conclusions: Interventions to decrease recurrence rates for adolescent self poisoning should be directed towards substance (particularly alcohol or benzodiazepine) abuse, nonaffective psychoses and personality disorder.

Log in via your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

There are no offers available at the current time.

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.