Epidemiological, social and psychiatric aspects in self-poisoned patients : a prospective comparative study from Trondheim, Norway between 1978 and 1987

A prospective study of an unselected group of patients admitted in a Medical Department in 1978 (n = 257) and 1987 (n = 361) after deliberate self-poisoning is presented. The rate increased significantly over the period of the study (P less than 0.05). Family problems, unemployment, poor social conditions and alcohol and drug abuse had increased. The main psychiatric diagnosis was neurosis. From 1978 to 1987 "abuse" had increased substantially. The 10-year mortality rate was 4.5 and 4.1 times the expected value for female and male patients, respectively. We conclude that social and psychiatric problems are increasing and that the treatment of these patients today is far from satisfactory.