Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine (정신신체의학)

Korean Psychosomatic Society (한국정신신체의학회)
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The Clinical Characteristics of Elderly Suicide Attempters Visiting Emergency Room

응급실을 내원한 노인 자살시도자들의 임상적 특징

  • Shin, Hyun Woo (Department of Psychiatry, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje Unversity College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Kang Joon (Department of Psychiatry, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje Unversity College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Hyun (Department of Psychiatry, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje Unversity College of Medicine)
  • 신현우 (인제대학교 의과대학 일산백병원 정신건강의학교실) ;
  • 이강준 (인제대학교 의과대학 일산백병원 정신건강의학교실) ;
  • 김현 (인제대학교 의과대학 일산백병원 정신건강의학교실)
  • Received : 2015.10.25
  • Accepted : 2015.11.05
  • Published : 2015.12.31
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Abstract

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to find out the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of elderly suicide attempters visiting emergency room, compared to non-elderly adult suicide attempters. Methods : We enrolled suicidal attempters who were treated in the emergency room of the Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital between June 2013 and July 2015. We conducted a retrospective chart review of 336 suicidal attempters, and compared sociodemographic and clinical characteristics between elderly and non-elderly adult suicide attempters. Results : During the study period, 336 patients visited the emergency room of the medical center after suicide attempts. Among these, there were 71 elderly(21.2%) and 265 non-elderly adult(79.8%) suicide attempters. The suicidal methods among elderly were poisoning(73.3%), hanging(19.7%), cutting(5.6%), and jumping(1.4%). Those in non-elderly were poisoning(73.2%), cutting(17.0%), hanging(6.8%), and jumping(3.0%). The elderly suicide attempters had the tendency to choose more dangerous methods and showed higher lethality compared to adult suicide attempters(20.6% vs. 1.9%, ${\chi}^2=34.565$, p<0.05). On the other hand, premorbid psychiatric disorders had been more commonly diagnosed in non-elderly adults than elderly suicide attempters(49.8% vs. 26.8%, ${\chi}^2=12.024$, p<0.05). Conclusions : The results provide evidence of different sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of elderly suicide attempters compared to non-elderly ones visiting the emergency room. Through this study, it can be seen that the suicide attempt in the elderly tends to be severer than in the non-elderly, but only a small portion of them seek for help from psychiatric intervention. Further study is required to provide effective suicide prevention programs for elderly population.

연구목적 한국에서 자살률의 높은 상승은 주로 남성과 노인에 집중되어 있다. 특히 65세 이상 노인 인구에서의 자살률은 OECD 가입 국가들 중 가장 높았다. 이 연구는 응급실에 내원한 노인 자살시도자들의 인구사회학적 특징과 임상적 특징을 알아보기 위하여 실시되었다. 방 법 2013년 6월과 2015년 7월까지 인제의대 일산백병원의 응급실을 방문한 총 336명의 20세 이상 성인과 노인 자살시도자들을 대상으로 실시되었다. 자살시도자들의 의무기록을 후향적으로 분석하여 노인과 성인의 사회인구학적, 임상적 특징을 비교 분석하였다. 결 과 연구기간 동안 71명의 노인, 265명의 성인 자살시도자들이 응급실을 내원하였다. 노인 자살시도자들의 자살방법은 약물중독, 몸맴, 자상, 투신 순이었으며 성인보다 상대적으로 높은 치명도를 나타내었다. 또한 과거 정신과 장애는 노인 자살시도자들보다 성인 자살시도자들에서 더 흔하였다. 결 론 본 연구 결과는 응급실을 내원한 노인 자살시도자들의 임상적 특징을 제시하고 있으며, 이를 통해 노인 자살시도자들이 높은 치명도를 보이는 자살시도방법을 사용하는 것을 알 수 있었다. 향후 효과적인 노인 자살방지 프로그램 개발을 위한 더 많은 연구가 필요할 것이다.

Keywords

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