Evaluation of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Suicidal Drug Ingestion in Children and Adolescents: A Single-Center Retrospective Study Çocuk ve Ergenlerde İntihar Amaçlı İlaç Alımının Demografik ve Klinik Özelliklerinin Değerlendirilmesi: Tek Merkezli Retrospektif Bir Çalışma

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Sarı E. E., Aslan G.

Medical Journal of Bakirkoy, cilt.22, sa.2, ss.164-168, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus, TRDizin)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 22 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.4274/bmj.galenos.2026.2026.2-5
  • Dergi Adı: Medical Journal of Bakirkoy
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM), Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Pharma Collection (ProQuest)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.164-168
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Child, adolescent, suicide, intoxication, multi-drug ingestion
  • Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
  • Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Objective: Adolescence represents a high-risk period for self-harm behaviors. This study aimed to evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients aged 9-18 years who presented to the pediatric emergency department with suicidal drug ingestion, and to identify age-specific risk factors. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 67 patients admitted to a tertiary pediatric emergency department between January 2023 and December 2024. Patients were stratified into early adolescence (9-14 years) and mid-to-late adolescence (15-18 years) groups. Clinical outcomes and demographic data were analyzed. Results: The cohort was 83.6% female with a mean age of 13.93±1.4 years. Multi-drug ingestion was identified in 56.7% of patients. While the gender distribution was similar across groups, the 15-18-year age group exhibited significantly higher rates of multidrug ingestion (78.6% vs. 41.0%; p=0.003), recurrent suicide attempts (53.6% vs. 23.1%; p=0.010), and symptomatic presentation (64.3% vs. 35.9%; p=0.022). Furthermore, multidrug ingestion significantly increased the risk of intoxication in the 9-14 age group (p=0.012). Conclusion: Clinical complexity increases with age, characterized by higher rates of multidrug use and recurrence among older adolescents. Consequently, prevention strategies should prioritize safe medication storage and age-specific psychosocial interventions involving both families and schools.