Differences in Demographic and Psychological Variables in Suicide by Self-immolation and Poisoning

Background: Self-immolation and intentional poisoning are two common methods for suicidal attempts in developing countries. Few studies have compared the characteristics of people who commit suicide by self-immolation or intentional poisoning. Hence, the aim of this study was to compare demographic,...

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Main Authors: Kamran Aghakhani, Adel Rasouli, Hamid Reza Jamilian, Azadeh Memarian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Arak University of Medical Sciences 2013-11-01
Series:Iranian Journal of Toxicology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://ijt.arakmu.ac.ir/browse.php?mag_id=22&slc_lang=fa&sid=1
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author Kamran Aghakhani
Adel Rasouli
Hamid Reza Jamilian
Azadeh Memarian
author_facet Kamran Aghakhani
Adel Rasouli
Hamid Reza Jamilian
Azadeh Memarian
author_sort Kamran Aghakhani
collection DOAJ
description Background: Self-immolation and intentional poisoning are two common methods for suicidal attempts in developing countries. Few studies have compared the characteristics of people who commit suicide by self-immolation or intentional poisoning. Hence, the aim of this study was to compare demographic, social, and psychological features between these two groups. Methods: In the present study, patients hospitalized after suicide by self-immolation in Shaheed Motahari Hospital, Tehran, were compared to patients hospitalized due to intentional poisoning in Loghman Hakim Hospital, Tehran, in 2011. Demographic and psychological data were collected by interviews and questionnaires and analyzed by SPSS software (version 16). Results: Overall, 50 patients with poisoning and 21 patients with self-immolation were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The mean age of the patients in the poisoning group was significantly lower than the self-immolation group (P=0.007). The number of married people in the self-immolation group was significantly higher than the poisoning group (P=0.014). Substance abuse was also significantly higher (P=0.048) and educational level was significantly lower (P=0.023) in the self-immolation group. However, the prevalence of anxiety disorders (P=0.001) and adjustment disorders (P=0.007) was significantly higher in the poisoning group than the self-immolation group. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest the presence of differences between individuals who commit suicide by self-immolation or by poisoning in terms of demographic and psychological factors. Identification of these differences can be important in planning suicide prevention measures and education.
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spelling doaj.art-a39b740a6c9641c8a8c55fe579e3a5252022-12-21T18:21:21ZengArak University of Medical SciencesIranian Journal of Toxicology2008-29672251-94592013-11-01722882886Differences in Demographic and Psychological Variables in Suicide by Self-immolation and PoisoningKamran Aghakhani0Adel Rasouli1Hamid Reza Jamilian2Azadeh Memarian3Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.Forensic Medicine Specialist, Legal Medicine Organization, Gorgan, Iran.Department of Psychiatry, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.- azade.memarian@yahoo.comBackground: Self-immolation and intentional poisoning are two common methods for suicidal attempts in developing countries. Few studies have compared the characteristics of people who commit suicide by self-immolation or intentional poisoning. Hence, the aim of this study was to compare demographic, social, and psychological features between these two groups. Methods: In the present study, patients hospitalized after suicide by self-immolation in Shaheed Motahari Hospital, Tehran, were compared to patients hospitalized due to intentional poisoning in Loghman Hakim Hospital, Tehran, in 2011. Demographic and psychological data were collected by interviews and questionnaires and analyzed by SPSS software (version 16). Results: Overall, 50 patients with poisoning and 21 patients with self-immolation were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The mean age of the patients in the poisoning group was significantly lower than the self-immolation group (P=0.007). The number of married people in the self-immolation group was significantly higher than the poisoning group (P=0.014). Substance abuse was also significantly higher (P=0.048) and educational level was significantly lower (P=0.023) in the self-immolation group. However, the prevalence of anxiety disorders (P=0.001) and adjustment disorders (P=0.007) was significantly higher in the poisoning group than the self-immolation group. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest the presence of differences between individuals who commit suicide by self-immolation or by poisoning in terms of demographic and psychological factors. Identification of these differences can be important in planning suicide prevention measures and education.http://ijt.arakmu.ac.ir/browse.php?mag_id=22&slc_lang=fa&sid=1Mental IllnessPersonality DisordersPoisoningDemographic FactorsSelf-Immolation
spellingShingle Kamran Aghakhani
Adel Rasouli
Hamid Reza Jamilian
Azadeh Memarian
Differences in Demographic and Psychological Variables in Suicide by Self-immolation and Poisoning
Iranian Journal of Toxicology
Mental Illness
Personality Disorders
Poisoning
Demographic Factors
Self-Immolation
title Differences in Demographic and Psychological Variables in Suicide by Self-immolation and Poisoning
title_full Differences in Demographic and Psychological Variables in Suicide by Self-immolation and Poisoning
title_fullStr Differences in Demographic and Psychological Variables in Suicide by Self-immolation and Poisoning
title_full_unstemmed Differences in Demographic and Psychological Variables in Suicide by Self-immolation and Poisoning
title_short Differences in Demographic and Psychological Variables in Suicide by Self-immolation and Poisoning
title_sort differences in demographic and psychological variables in suicide by self immolation and poisoning
topic Mental Illness
Personality Disorders
Poisoning
Demographic Factors
Self-Immolation
url http://ijt.arakmu.ac.ir/browse.php?mag_id=22&slc_lang=fa&sid=1
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