Association of Prescribed Drug intoxication and Neuropsychiatric history

Kim, Hyeon Jung; Kim, Hye Mi; Kim, Ho Jung; Cho, Young Soon; Lee, Myung Gab; Jun, Duck Ho; Go, Chan Young

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between patients with a neuropsychiatric history and features of their suicide attempt, in order to analyze the risk associated with psychiatrist prescribed drugs.
METHODS
We retrospectively investigated cases of intentional overdose drug ingestion in patients greater than 14 years of age who visited OO emergency medical center between January 1, 2008 and July 31, 2010. We evaluated patient medical records to ascertain their age, sex, neuropsychiatric history, and components of ingested intoxicant. Information regarding any suicide reattempt was obtained after discharge through follow up telephone survey. SPSS version 13.0 was used for statistical analysis. Fisher's exact test was performed with p<0.05 considered statistically significant.
RESULTS
Ninety-six of 209 patients (46%) had a past history of psychological problems. Among those 96 patients with a history of psychological problems, 46(48%) used an overdose of the medicine prescribed by their psychologist in order to attempt suicide. However, for patients without a history of psychological problems, intoxication by neuropsychiatric drugs was insignificant. Neuropsychiatric patients required greater follow up care after discharge and exhibited significantly more suicide reattempts.
CONCLUSION
This study revealed that patients sometimes use the medicine prescribed by their psychologist to attempt suicide. Therefore, an exhaustive plan to control the medicines prescribed to psychiatric patients should be established.