Trends and Prevalence of Hospital Admissions Related to Deliberate Self-Poisoning and Used Substances in Romanian Adolescents between 2016 and 2022
Rates of self-poisoning are increasing substantially all around the world, with self-poisoning being the most common form of self-harm leading to hospitalization in children and adolescents. This study aims to investigate the trends in the number of deliberate self-poisoning admissions in Romanian a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/5/790 |
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| author | Elena Predescu Iulia Calugar Cristian Bibu-Monus Roxana Sipos |
| author_facet | Elena Predescu Iulia Calugar Cristian Bibu-Monus Roxana Sipos |
| author_sort | Elena Predescu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rates of self-poisoning are increasing substantially all around the world, with self-poisoning being the most common form of self-harm leading to hospitalization in children and adolescents. This study aims to investigate the trends in the number of deliberate self-poisoning admissions in Romanian adolescents during the period of 2016–2022, as well as the most frequently used substances and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital admissions due to self-poisoning and substance use in relation to these episodes. The sample included 178 patients admitted to the Clinic of Pediatric Psychiatry in Cluj-Napoca from 2016 to 2022 due to an episode of self-poisoning. Data were collected on patients’ sociodemographic characteristics, psychosocial characteristics, and medical histories. We report a slight overall increase in the self-poisoning admission rate during the studied period. There was a decrease during the initial period of the pandemic, with significantly increasing rates in the second year of the pandemic. The mean prevalence rate of hospital admissions due to self-poisoning episodes during the study period was 3.14% (95% CI 2.72, 3.63). Adolescent girls were identified as the most vulnerable group, with the female-to-male ratio increasing dramatically. In terms of substance use, benzodiazepines; over-the-counter analgesics, including paracetamol; and antidepressants were the most frequently used substances. We emphasize the importance of careful consideration in prescribing psychotropic drugs, as well as the need for regulation of over-the-counter drug dispensation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:50:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a2379b23e08d4dacb25160eb4618c30f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:50:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-a2379b23e08d4dacb25160eb4618c30f2023-11-18T00:54:56ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672023-04-0110579010.3390/children10050790Trends and Prevalence of Hospital Admissions Related to Deliberate Self-Poisoning and Used Substances in Romanian Adolescents between 2016 and 2022Elena Predescu0Iulia Calugar1Cristian Bibu-Monus2Roxana Sipos3Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Pediatric Psychiatry, “IuliuHatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400489 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaClinic of Pediatric Psychiatry and Addiction, Clinical Emergency Hospital for Children, 400489 Cluj-Napoca, Romania1st Surgical Clinic, Emergency Clinical County Hospital Cluj, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaDepartment of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Pediatric Psychiatry, “IuliuHatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400489 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaRates of self-poisoning are increasing substantially all around the world, with self-poisoning being the most common form of self-harm leading to hospitalization in children and adolescents. This study aims to investigate the trends in the number of deliberate self-poisoning admissions in Romanian adolescents during the period of 2016–2022, as well as the most frequently used substances and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital admissions due to self-poisoning and substance use in relation to these episodes. The sample included 178 patients admitted to the Clinic of Pediatric Psychiatry in Cluj-Napoca from 2016 to 2022 due to an episode of self-poisoning. Data were collected on patients’ sociodemographic characteristics, psychosocial characteristics, and medical histories. We report a slight overall increase in the self-poisoning admission rate during the studied period. There was a decrease during the initial period of the pandemic, with significantly increasing rates in the second year of the pandemic. The mean prevalence rate of hospital admissions due to self-poisoning episodes during the study period was 3.14% (95% CI 2.72, 3.63). Adolescent girls were identified as the most vulnerable group, with the female-to-male ratio increasing dramatically. In terms of substance use, benzodiazepines; over-the-counter analgesics, including paracetamol; and antidepressants were the most frequently used substances. We emphasize the importance of careful consideration in prescribing psychotropic drugs, as well as the need for regulation of over-the-counter drug dispensation.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/5/790self-poisoningadolescentsCOVID-19self-harm |
| spellingShingle | Elena Predescu Iulia Calugar Cristian Bibu-Monus Roxana Sipos Trends and Prevalence of Hospital Admissions Related to Deliberate Self-Poisoning and Used Substances in Romanian Adolescents between 2016 and 2022 Children self-poisoning adolescents COVID-19 self-harm |
| title | Trends and Prevalence of Hospital Admissions Related to Deliberate Self-Poisoning and Used Substances in Romanian Adolescents between 2016 and 2022 |
| title_full | Trends and Prevalence of Hospital Admissions Related to Deliberate Self-Poisoning and Used Substances in Romanian Adolescents between 2016 and 2022 |
| title_fullStr | Trends and Prevalence of Hospital Admissions Related to Deliberate Self-Poisoning and Used Substances in Romanian Adolescents between 2016 and 2022 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trends and Prevalence of Hospital Admissions Related to Deliberate Self-Poisoning and Used Substances in Romanian Adolescents between 2016 and 2022 |
| title_short | Trends and Prevalence of Hospital Admissions Related to Deliberate Self-Poisoning and Used Substances in Romanian Adolescents between 2016 and 2022 |
| title_sort | trends and prevalence of hospital admissions related to deliberate self poisoning and used substances in romanian adolescents between 2016 and 2022 |
| topic | self-poisoning adolescents COVID-19 self-harm |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/5/790 |
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