RESUMO
The demographic, ethnic and clinical characteristics of 102 adolescents admitted to the Port-of Spain General Hospital over a 10-month period because of parasuicide were studied. The estimated rate of attempted suicide among adolescents was 94 per 100,000 of the hospital catchment population. Ninety per cent of the sample were females. Fifteen per cent had previously attempted suicide. Twenty-five per cent were clinically depressed, 22% had adjustment reactions, and in 49% no mental illness was detected. In 50% of cases, no further treatment was necessary after the first psychiatric interview. Intra-family conflicts were the most frequent reasons given for the attempted suicides. Girls of East Indian origin attempted suicide more frequently than those of African origin. Adolescents of mixed racial backgrounds attempted suicide less frequently than those of either African or East Indian origins. The findings of the study suggest a need for the adolescent psychiatric services to be upgraded, and for a review of the hospital policy of admitting all parasuicides of whatever degree as this is resulting in unnecessary and costly utilization of hospital beds.
Assuntos
Países em Desenvolvimento , Tentativa de Suicídio/estatística & dados numéricos , Adolescente , Criança , Comparação Transcultural , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Incidência , Masculino , Fatores de Risco , Tentativa de Suicídio/etnologia , Tentativa de Suicídio/psicologia , Trinidad e Tobago/epidemiologiaRESUMO
The demographic, ethnic and clinical characteristics of 102 adolescents admitted to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital over a 10-month period because of parasuicide were studied. The estimated rate of attempted suicide among adolescents was 94 per 100,000 of the hospital catchment population. Ninety per cent of the sample were females. Fifteen per cent had previously attempted suicide. Twenty-five per cent were clinically depressed, 22 per cent had adjustment reactions, and in 49 per cent no mental illness was detected. In 50 per cent of cases, no further treatment was necessary after the first psychiatric interview. Intra-family conflicts were the most frequent reasons given for the attempted suicides. Girls of East Indian origin attempted suicide more frequently than those of African origin. Adolescents of mixed racial backgrounds attempted suicide less frequently than those of either African or East Indian origins. The findings of the study suggest a need for the adolescent psychiatric services to be upgraded, and for a review of the hospital policy of admitting all parasuicides of whatever degree as this is resulting in unnecessary and costly utilization of hospital beds
Assuntos
Humanos , Feminino , Tentativa de Suicídio , Adolescente , Intoxicação , Trinidad e Tobago , Etnicidade , Serviços de Saúde MentalRESUMO
The demographic, ethnic and clinical characteristics of 102 adolescents admitted to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital over a 10-month period because of parasuicide were studied. The estimated rate of attempted suicide among adolescents was 94 per 100,000 of the hospital catchment population. Ninety per cent of the sample were females. Fifteen per cent had previously attempted suicide. Twenty-five per cent were clinically depressed, 22 percent had adjustment reactions, and in 49 percent no mental illness was detected. In 50 percent of cases, no further treatment was necessary after the first psychiatric interview. Intra-family conflicts were the most frequent reasons given for the attempted suicides. Girls of East Indian origin attempted suicide more frequently than those of African origin. Adolescents of mixed racial backgrounds attempted suicide less frequently than those of either African or East Indian origins. The findings of the study suggest a need for the adolescent psychiatric services to be upgraded, and for a review of the hospital policy of admitting all parasuicides of whatever degree as this is resulting in unnecessary and costly utilization of hospital beds (AU)
Assuntos
Humanos , Feminino , Masculino , Adolescente , Tentativa de Suicídio , Trinidad e Tobago , Etnicidade , Intoxicação , Serviços de Saúde MentalRESUMO
All patients referred for a psychiatric consultation from the adult wards of a General Hospital over a 10-month period were examined. The referral rate was 1.4%. Twice as many female patients were referred as male patients. Parasuicide accounted for 68% of referrals. The most common psychiatric diagnoses were adjustment reaction (41%), depression (23%), alcohol dependence (5%) and schizophrenia (5%). In 30% of referrals, no psychiatric treatment was necessary; 26% were transferred to the psychiatric unit and 17% were discharged to the out-patients' psychiatric clinic. Explanations are offered for the "hidden" psychiatric morbidity in General Hospitals and the high percentage of referrals who did not need psychiatric follow-up. Suggestions are made for a better liaison between physicians and psychiatrists.
Assuntos
Hospitais Gerais/estatística & dados numéricos , Pacientes Internados , Transtornos Mentais/diagnóstico , Transferência de Pacientes/estatística & dados numéricos , Padrões de Prática Médica/estatística & dados numéricos , Encaminhamento e Consulta/estatística & dados numéricos , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Transtornos Mentais/epidemiologia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Razão de Masculinidade , VenezuelaRESUMO
All patients referred for a psychiatric consultation from the adult wards of a General Hospital over a 10-month period were examined. The referral rate was 1.4 per cent . Twice as many female patients were referred as male pateints. Parasuicide accounted for 68 per cent of referrals. The most common psychiatric diagnoses were adjustment reaction (41 per cent ), depression (23 per cent ), alcohol dependence (5 per cent ). In 30 per cent of referrals, no psychiatric treatment was necessary; 26 per cent were transferred to the psychiatric unit and 17 per cent were discharged to the out-patients' psychiatric clinic. Explanations are offered for the "hidden" psychiatric morbidity in General Hospitals and the high percentage of referrals who did not need psychiatric follow-up. Suggestions are made for a better liaison between physicians and psychiatrists.
Assuntos
Humanos , Adulto , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Masculino , Feminino , Encaminhamento e Consulta , Pacientes Internados , Transtornos Mentais/diagnóstico , Unidade Hospitalar de Psiquiatria , Trinidad e Tobago , Fatores SexuaisRESUMO
All patients referred for a psychiatric consultation from the adult wards of a General Hospital over a 10-month period were examined. The referral rate was 1.4 percent. Twice as many female patients were referred as male pateints. Parasuicide accounted for 68 percent of referrals. The most common psychiatric diagnoses were adjustment reaction (41 percent), depression (23 percent), alcohol dependence (5 percent). In 30 percent of referrals, no psychiatric treatment was necessary; 26 percent were transferred to the psychiatric unit and 17 percent were discharged to the out-patients' psychiatric clinic. Explanations are offered for the "hidden" psychiatric morbidity in General Hospitals and the high percentage of referrals who did not need psychiatric follow-up. Suggestions are made for a better liaison between physicians and psychiatrists (AU)