Pattern of Attempted Suicide in Babylon in the Last 6 Years of Sanctions Against Iraq

This study describes the pattern of attempted suicide in the Babylon governate of Iraq during the last 6 years of sanctions. A retrospective case-note review was done & included all persons referred to a hospital between May 1996-May 2002 following self-poisoning or self-injury. The study sample was marked by a high proportion of psychiatric diagnoses yet only 2 patients had had previous mental health treatment. Suicide attempts were more common among women & reasons for this are briefly discussed. Limitations to the findings are reviewed. (12 refs.)