Demographic and clinical profile of young adult emergency ward patients in Serbia who attempted suicide by poisoning during the Covid-19 pandemic: a retrospective cohort study

Authors

  • Maja Petrović Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital Pirot, Serbia
  • Ana Simić Facoltà di Psicologia Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano, Italia
  • Katarina Simić Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science, University of Florida, USA
  • Gordana Vuković Ercegović National Poison Control Centre, Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, Serbia; Medical Faculty Military Medical Academy, University of Defence, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Nataša Perković Vukčević National Poison Control Centre, Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, Serbia; Medical Faculty Military Medical Academy, University of Defence, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Slavica Vučinić National Poison Control Centre, Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, Serbia; Medical Faculty Military Medical Academy, University of Defence, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7837-8367
  • Zvezdana Stojanović Clinic of Psychiatry Military Medical Academy; Medical Faculty Military Medical Academy, University of Defence, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0695-1563

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2478/aiht-2025-76-3933

Keywords:

benzodiazepines, deliberate self-poisoning, depression, mental disorders, psychopharmacotherapy, SARS CoV 2, self-harm

Abstract

Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in young adults worldwide. Given the vulnerability of this population, the aim of our retrospective cohort study was to examine the demographic and clinical profile of 193 young adult emergency ward patients at the Clinic for Emergency and Clinical Toxicology of the National Poison Control Centre (NPCC), Military Medical Academy (MMA) in Belgrade, Serbia who attempted suicide by poisoning in 2020–2023. More than half suffered from a mental disorder, and poisoning mainly involved marketed prescription drugs (most often benzodiazepines). Women attempted suicide by poisoning more often and had a history of previous attempts, while men had more ensuing complications and were older. Current mental disorders and current psychopharmacotherapy positively correlated with the number of suicide attempts by poisoning and with the history of previous poisoning with prescription drugs. The number of suicide attempts by poisoning also correlated positively with self-harm. Our results suggest that the experience of the pandemic has highlighted the need to strengthen mental healthcare. Developing the resilience of young people, establishing help centres, and improving public awareness of this important issue could help reduce the incidence of suicide attempts in young adult population.

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Published

27.03.2025

Issue

Section

Original article

How to Cite

1.
Petrović M, Simić A, Simić K, Vuković Ercegović G, Perković Vukčević N, Vučinić S, et al. Demographic and clinical profile of young adult emergency ward patients in Serbia who attempted suicide by poisoning during the Covid-19 pandemic: a retrospective cohort study. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol [Internet]. 2025 Mar. 27 [cited 2025 Mar. 31];76(1). Available from: https://arhiv.imi.hr/index.php/arhiv/article/view/1800

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