Repetition of Self-Poisoning and Subsequent Death in Adolescents Who Take Overdoses

This research investigates the incidence of further suicide attempts in a group of patients aged 12-20 who took drug overdoses between 1974-1978. Significant findings include: repitition occured most frequently in the first few months after initial admission; repitition & suicide rates were highest among males 16-20; the death rate for the group studied was 4 times that of the same aged general population; 9.5% of the sample attempted again within the 2.8 year study period. (NBB)