Epidemiological characteristics of suicidal patients admitted to the psychiatric clinic in Kragujevac: A ten-year retrospective study

Introduction. Suicide attempts are a significant public health problem. They are associated with significant morbidity and result in significant use of health care resources. Objective. The aim of our study was to analyze epidemiological characteristics attempts of suicide for persons in the period 2001-2010 who were hospitalized at the Psychiatric Clinic in Kragujevac after the attempt of suicide. Methods. We analysed 286 clinical records of patients who had attempted suicide (133 males, 153 females). We used the illness history of patients, who were treated at the Psychiatric Clinic in Kragujevac after their suicide attempts. We made the analysis of socio-demographic characteristics of the sample and characteristics of the suicide act itself. Results. Our results showed a higher rate of female population, except for the period 2003-2005: 2003 - 14 males (58.3%), 2004 - 15 (62.5%) and 2005 - 60%. The largest number of attempts was in the population aged between 25 and 34 years (23.8%). The percentage of persons from urban areas was higher (66.4%). Depressive disorder was a common pre-existing disorder before a suicide attempt (42.3%). Most attempts of suicide were performed by overdosing on medications (57.7%). Conclusion. In the last three years we observed a decrease of suicide attempts. We noticed that middle aged persons are the most frequent ones to attempt suicide. Depressive disorder is the most frequent pre-existing condition of suicide attempt. In order to prevent suicide attempts we must improve early detection of depressive disorder, as well as initial treatment.