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Child and adolescent self-poisoning: service-related characteristics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Ashraf Nasr ,
Panos Vostanis  and
Linda Winkley
Ashraf Nasr
Affiliation:
Reaside Clinic, Birmingham
Panos Vostanis*
Affiliation:
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Birmingham, Parkview Clinic, Queensbridge Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 5QE
Linda Winkley
Affiliation:
Oaklands Unit, Birmingham
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

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This study presents the pattern of assessment and 6-month out-patient attendance of 54 children and adolescents who took an overdose over a 12-month period, and were assessed by a district child and adolescent psychiatry service. Attempts were precipitated by arguments (67%) or school-related stressors (19%). In 70.4% of cases, analgesic tablets were used. A psychiatric disorder was present in 51% of the cases. At 6 months, 13% of the patients were still attending for follow-up, while three children (5.5%) had taken a second overdose. Admission to a paediatric ward can facilitate the initiation of treatment. Child mental health services should aim at providing prompt assessment, good communication with other agencies, and follow-up arrangements, particularly with high-risk young people and their families

Type
Original Papers
Information
Psychiatric Bulletin , Volume 21 , Issue 5 , May 1997 , pp. 267 - 269
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

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