Mehmet Gün
Comprehensive Medicine - 2025;17(4):245-251
Objective: Identifying poisoning and suicidal characteristics in a country or specific region is crucial for determining risks, implementing necessary precautions, and managing affected individuals. This study aimed to examine the demographic, etiologic, and clinical features of patients with acute poisoning and identify factors associated with suicide attempts by poisoning. Materials and Methods: One hundred thirty-eight patients with acute poisoning who were admitted to the emergency department of Tokat-Turhal State Hospital between July 2021 and June 2023 were retrospectively included in this study. The patients were divided into two groups based on suicidal intent. Results: The incidence of poisoning over the study period was 0.048%. The median age was 28.5 (range: 15-47) years, and 81 (58.7%) patients were female. Poisoning cases were most frequent during summer, particularly in June. Thirty patients (21.74%) presented following suicide attempts by poisoning. The most common causes of poisoning were mushrooms (34.26%) and corrosive agents (32.41%) in the non-suicidal group. In contrast, 80% of suicide attempts involved drug poisoning (p<0.001), primarily analgesics and psychiatric drugs. Patients in the suicide attempt group had higher rates of psychiatric history (p<0.001), poorer health status (p=0.009), and more frequent ICU admissions (p<0.001). Conclusion: Suicide attempts mostly occurred via drug overdose, especially among individuals with psychiatric illness, resulting in poorer outcomes and greater need for intensive care. Early intervention, follow-up, and increased public awareness may help improve prognosis and reduce complications. Keywords: Drug intoxication, emergency department, poisoning, suicide attempt
