Management of uterine artery pseudoaneurysm: advanced ultrasonography imaging and laparoscopic surgery as an alternative method to angio-computed tomography and transarterial embolization.

OBJECTIVE

Repetitive acute self-poisoning takes great part of all admissions at the Emergency Department including self-harm as one of the main reasons. The aim of this study is to analyze the characteristics of the patients treated for repetitive self-poisoning with suicidal intent (RSP-SI) in Vojvodina (Serbia), in order to propose preventative strategy and better management of the issue.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

The retrospective study included data regarding patients treated for RSP-SI during a 5-year period in Vojvodina, Serbia.

RESULTS

Repetitive self-poisoning was determined in 485 patients, of whom 35.05% reported suicidal intention. Mean number of RSP-SI per patient was 3.61±3.08. The mean period between two RSP-SI in group of females and males was 9.69±13.60 and 6.95±11.02 months, respectively. Almost two thirds (65.29%) of them were unemployed. Most of the patients had mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use (ICD F10-19; 51.18%) and anxiety, dissociative, stress-related, somatoform and other nonpsychotic mental disorders (ICD F40-48; 33.53%). The sole etiological agent was identified in 39.15% attempts. In 58.08% of the attempts more than one substance was detected (2.50±0.73 per attempt). The co-ingestion of alcohol and benzodiazepines was the most common combination (19.41%). Psychiatry intervention was needed in 70.31% of the patients. Five of all patients with RSP-SI (2.94%) committed suicide.

CONCLUSIONS

The recognition and the treatment of mental disorders as well as the control of psychiatric medications prescribing could represent one of the most important preventive strategies for repetitive suicidal behavior.