Self-poisonings before and during the initial year of the COVID-19 pandemic in northern Poland

Abstract

Objectives:The objectives of this study included evaluating and reporting on the initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and preventive measures in the form of a lockdown on self-poisoning tendencies in northern Poland. Material and Methods: The authors retrospectively analyzed medical records of all patients (N = 2990) admitted to the Pomeranian Center of Toxicology in 2018-2020. Of those, further analysis included 2140 patients who had been admitted because of a suicide attempt by self-poisoning. The authors also selected a group of 40 patients on the basis of a self-reported direct relationship of the suicide attempt with the COVID-19 pandemic or the imposed lockdown. Results: The rates of suicide attempts in toxicological patients over the years ranged 68.18-75.3%. The patients were predominantly female, with age between M±SD 33.2±16.9 and 36.0±16.4. Each year, over 60% of patients were admitted during their first attempt and were treated psychiatrically prior to their attempt, with differences observed in the COVID-19-related group. The alcohol intoxication during the suicide attempt was confirmed in 37.40-43.53% of the patients, with a higher rate of 52.50% observed in the COVID-19-related group. The main self-reported reason for the suicide was a romantic relationship conflict or breakup, and a conflict and/or violence in the family. The most frequent agents were over-the-counter painkillers, antidepressants, antipsychotics and benzodiazepines or Z-drugs. Conclusions: During the initial year of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a fall of suicide attempts by self-poisonings in northern Poland, significant only in the case of women. The self-reported reasons were similar in all years, with mainly minor changes. There was also an increase in attempts made using benzodiazepines or Z-drugs seen in 2020 and in the COVID-19-related group. The authors believe that there is a need for multi-center, large-scale prospective studies that would provide better insight into the pandemic-related suicidal trends.

Association between Prescribing and Intoxication Rates for Selected Psychotropic Drugs: A Longitudinal Observational Study

“…All included BDZs and the majority of antipsychotics, both commonly used as hypnotics or sedatives [ 33 , 34 ], had higher IPR values than any of the individual antidepressants. Trazodone, the antidepressant with the highest IPR (0.72), is also used off-label to treat insomnia [ 35 , 36 ]. Of the five psychotropic drug groups, antidepressants had the lowest risk for intoxication.…”

“…Worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic had a varying impact on the intoxication rates of psychotropic drugs. In 2020, there was an increase in suicide attempts with BDZ-receptor agonists in northern Poland [ 36 ]. Similarly, self-poisoning events with sedatives and psychotropic drugs (i.e., antidepressants, antipsychotics, and psychostimulants) increased in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in an English hospital [ 39 ].…”

Oxidative stress and biochemical indicators in blood of patients addicted to alcohol treated for acute ethylene glycol poisoning

“…The problem of acute poisonings with alcohols of unknown origin, including ethylene glycol, mainly affects people addicted to alcohol. 1 In the course of EG poisoning, three clinical phases were distinguished, first similar to ethyl alcohol intoxication (Table 1). Symptoms of ethylene glycol intoxication mainly result from its rapid biotransformation to metabolites responsible for toxic effects.…”

Characteristics of poisoning patients visiting emergency departments before and after the COVID-19 pandemic

“…-19로 인한 이러한 응급의료체계의 변화는 조기 인지 와 빠른 초기 처치가 그 예후에 중요한 급성 중독환자에게 영 향을 미칠 수 있다. 국외 연구들에 따르면 코로나-19 대유행 이 후 응급실로 내원하는 급성 중독 환자들의 성별, 연령, 의도성, 중독 물질 등 역학적인 차이가 있었고 일부 연구에서는 응급실 도착 시간 지연과 입원율, 사망률 증가 등 임상적인 차이를 보 고하였다[12][13][14][15][16] . 하지만 이 연구들은 단일 기관에서 이루어진 한…”