[Registration of parasuicide at hospitals and emergency units].

BACKGROUND

Suicide attempts (or parasuicides) is an important health problem. A better system for follow-up and surveillance of this group of patients is needed for better prioritization of preventive measures.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

All self-inflicted injuries registered at the hospital and emergency ward in Stavanger, Norway, in 1992 were retrieved from the Norwegian National Injury Sample Registry (n = 403). The form for each patient was filled out on the basis of their hospital record; a judgment of whether the case was a parasuicide or not was made. Patients with a parasuicide in 1992 were followed for a period of on average 5.5 years with respect to new parasuicides.

RESULTS

Medication was used in 85% of the cases. About 15% of the parasuiciders went through a new episode within one year of the first registered parasuicide.

INTERPRETATION

The results from this study are consistent with findings in other epidemiological studies, and the registration used in this study can be carried out in hospitals and emergency wards without much effort. The registration form should be further developed and tested prospectively.