Characteristics of overdose and non-overdose suicide attempts in a multi-ethnic Asian society.
BACKGROUND
Overdosing is an accessible method adopted by people attempting suicide in city settings.


AIMS
This study aimed to compare the trends and characteristics of people attempting suicide by drug overdose and by other methods in Singapore.


METHODS
This study examined the medical records of 628 patients who were admitted to a university hospital in Singapore, between January 2004 and December 2006. Patients were classified as overdose and non-overdose persons attempting suicide for comparisons of demographic and suicidal characteristics. Logistic regression was used to determine the odds ratios of various factors associated with self-perceived lethality of the suicide attempt. Patterns of monthly and weekly variations in the frequencies of suicide attempts were also analyzed.


RESULTS
The percentages of Chinese people was higher in the non-overdose group (71.5% vs. 62.9%), while the percentages of Malay and Indian people were higher in the overdose group (31.6% vs. 18.5%). The female gender (OR=0.36, p=0.04) and admission of suicide intention (OR=7.11, p<0.001) were significantly associated with higher perceived lethality of the suicide method in the non-overdose group. Suicide attempts occurred more frequently between May and November, and on Tuesdays.


CONCLUSIONS
Gender and ethnic differences between overdose and non-overdose people attempting suicide were found. Temporal variations of suicidal cases were also noted.
['Mak|Kwok Kei|KK|', 'Ho|Cyrus S H|CS|', 'Zhang|Melvyn W B|MW|', 'Day|Jeffrey R|JR|', 'Ho|Roger C M|RC|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D002681:China D062787:Drug Overdose D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007194:India D008296:Malaysia D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D012008:Recurrence D012189:Retrospective Studies D012307:Risk Factors D012846:Singapore D059020:Suicidal Ideation D013406:Suicide, Attempted D055815:Young Adult
Overdose Suicide Singapore Ethnicity