Resource Tag: TOXICOLOGY

Importance  Determining the association between drug use and suicide is complicated but can help to inform targeted suicide prevention strategies. Objective  To examine the substances prevalent in poisoning- and nonpoisoning-related suicides in Australia. Design, Setting, and Participants  This was a multiple-year, cross-sectional study of suicides from July 2013 to October 2019 in Australia with toxicology data available in […]

Objectives: To determine the numbers and types of medicines dispensed around the time of death to people who die by suicide; to compare the medicines recently dispensed and those recorded in post mortem toxicology reports. Design, setting, participants: Analysis of linked National Coronial Information System (NCIS) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) data from the Australian Suicide Prevention […]

Introduction This study investigates whether there is a relationship between alcohol and cocaine use in deaths where suicide by self‐injury is the suspected cause of death. Methods Adults referred by coroners to the Imperial College London Toxicology Unit for toxicological analysis between 2012 and 2016 were reviewed for inclusion criteria. Those who died by self‐injury […]

This study examined differences by race/ethnicity and state in poisoning deaths of undetermined intent (UnD) versus suicide classification and the potential impact of state variations on UnD rates for Blacks and Hispanics. We used data from the 2005-2015 U.S. National Violent Death Reporting System (N = 29,567 aged 15+) and weighted coarsened exact matching. The odds […]

Introduction: Poisoning is the most common method of non-fatal suicide. In recent years, poisoning caused by the use of medications and chemicals has increased. The present study aimed to investigate the rate of suicide using toxic compounds in Iranian children. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted using the data of 83 children aged 5-16 years […]

Background: Findings on the association between Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection and suicide are contradictory. This paper aimed to resolve this uncertainty by conducting a meta-analysis. Methods: We found the relevant studies using keywords include “Toxoplasmosis” and “Suicide” and the related synonyms in international databases such as ISI, Medline, and Scopus. The eligible studies were […]

BACKGROUND: This study examined blood alcohol content (BAC) among suicide decedents aged 50+ and its associations with suicide precipitating/risk factors, means, and other drug toxicology. METHODS: The National Violent Death Reporting System, 2005-2015, provided data (N = 56,118 for all suicide decedents and N = 29,115 with alcohol test results). We used logistic regression models, with BAC > 0.0 (BAC positive) […]

Attempted or non-fatal self-poisoning is common in Sri Lanka. To date, most preventive strategies have focused on limitation of access to toxic pesticides, which has reduced the rates of fatal self-poisoning. However the ongoing phenomenon of non-fatal self-poisoning indicates the need for exploration of alternate preventive strategies. Self-poisoning in Sri Lanka has been described as […]

Tranylcypromine (TCP) is a non-selective and irreversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor and an effective agent in the treatment of major depression. It features a complex pharmacologic profile and overdoses might induce severe intoxications. To identify typical clinical presentations of TCP-intoxications, range of associated TCP-dosages and possible differences between fatal and non-fatal intoxications a systematic review of […]

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This study determined the risk factors associated with suicide rates & the investigation of time trends in the deprived region of Epirus in north-west Greece. The suicide rate was found to be 2.65 per 100,000 population. There was a significant rising trend of male suicides in the 35-44 & 65-74 age groups. Three out of […]

Cerbera odollam is a tree belonging to the family that includes the yellow & common oleanders. The odollam tree is responsible for about 50 percent of the plant poisoning cases & 10% of the total poisoning cases in Kerala, India. It is used for both suicide & homicide. Approximatley 70-75 percent of suicides, 1989-1999, by […]

This study examined firearm suicides in Istanbul, occuring during 1998-2007. 36,971 autopsy reports were retrospectively reviewed. 73 suicides by shotgun were evaluated. 46 victims were male & 27 were female. Most victims were between 16-20 years. The majority of suicides occurred in the home & a suicide note was recovered in 7 cases. Ethyl alcohol […]

This study tested the hypothesis that suicide smokers would show higher nicotine & cotinine levels in blood & urine than non-suicide smokers. Nicotine & cotinine levels in 87 deceased Japanese individuals (18 suicide victims & 69 non-suicides) were determined by gas chromatography. The smoking rate was 77.8% for those who died by suicide & 42.4% […]

From each case of suicide & drug-related death autopsied in the Institute of Forensic Medicine, Munich during the years 2001-2005, a toxicological investigation for antidepressants was performed. In 180 suicides & 72 narcotic drug deaths, antidepressants were detected. There were serious differences in the frequency of antidepressants with respect to the manner of suicide. The […]

This article reviews the literature on the toxicology of suicide. Although toxicologic investigations are considered an integral part of medical-forensic investigations in individual cases of suicide, very few American states require comprehensive toxicology on all suicide victims. Instead, subjective determinations for toxicologic testing based on local policy & individual coroner or medical examiner preference are […]

In this editorial, the author briefly reviews articles published in the November & December 2007 issues of this journal on various aspects of suicide & suicidal behaviours. (1 ref.)

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A retrospective study of cases of drowning suicide was conducted in Adelaide, South Australia for the period April 1980-March 2000. A total of 123 cases were found, with 76 males & 47 females. Female victims were significantly older than male victims. Deaths in young women were rare. No temporal trend could be shown. Alcohol use […]

All cases referred to the Medical Examiner’s Office at the Medical University of South Carolina from 1988-1997 were reviewed. There were 78 cases of suicide in victims 65 years & older. The ages of these victims ranged from 65 to 94 years. Men comprised 85% of cases, & whites, 94%. The male-to-female & white-to-black ratios […]

Inquest records in 24 coroners’ jurisdictions in England on deaths between 2000-2001 which received a verdict of etiher suicide or undetermined cause (with a high or moderate probability of suicide) were examined. 123 coproxamol poisoning suicides were identified. Alcohol was involved in 58.5% of cases. Younger people were more likely to have consumed alcohol & […]

Hypothesis  Methamphetamine use affects length of hospital stay in the minimally injured patient. Design  Case series. Setting  The only tertiary trauma center serving Hawaii. Patients  Trauma patients examined during a 12-month period with an Injury Severity Score of 1 to 5 and an age of 18 to 55 years undergoing urine toxicology screen for suspected […]

States included in this study: Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, & Wisconsin.