Gender Differences in Er Psychiatric Consultations Among Suicide Attempters

Abstract

Purpose

Suicide attempts are extremely prevalent and associated with many risk factors that vary with age and gender, occur in combination, and may change over time. The aim of the present study was to describe gender differences among psychiatric ER users at the AOU Maggiore della Carità Hospital in Novara for attempted suicide with regard to intentions and methods of attempting.

Methods

Determinants of ER psychiatric consultations were studied prospectively during the period 2008-2014 at the 'Maggiore” Hospital in Novara. Comparison of qualitative data was performed by means of the ×2 test. Statistical significance was set at p≤0.05.

Results

We have already gathered data from more than 2000 ER psychiatric consultations. Preliminary results suggest that suicide attempts are more common in females than in males, although through the years there seems to be a trend towards increase of attempts even in males. Surprisingly, suicide attempts are found to be more common in employed subjects than in unemployed ones. Reasons for self-harming are associated with relational problems rather than psychiatric symptoms. Drugs poisoning seems to be the preferred suicide method.

Conclusions

The results described above should be considered as preliminary, as data collection and statistical analyses are still ongoing. Anyway, the possible correlation between employment and suicide attempt, and the growing frequency of attempts in males seem to be particularly interesting. Implications will be discussed.