The epidemiology of self-poisoning in the UK

Abstract

Self-poisoning by ingestion or inhalation is common, and it is important to study its various epidemiological manifestations with clear definitions. Data on fatal self-poisonings are recorded nationally within the UK and are codified according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) revision relevant at the time. Most fatal self-poisonings are codified as suicides, accidental deaths or undetermined deaths ('open verdicts'). Non-fatal self-poisoning data, whether accidental or as a manifestation of deliberate self-harm, are recorded through hospital discharge information nationally but are not routinely published in the same way as mortality data. The bulk of the UK's published epidemiological information on nonfatal self-poisoning episodes is largely based on individual hospitals' admission or discharge records ('special studies'). After establishing definitions for different self-poisoning categories we discuss the published data on self-poisoning as they relate to suicide, accidental self-poisoning and deliberate self-harm in the UK.

Figure 1

Trends in overdose discharges for paracetamol, antidepressants and opioid overdose and misuse in Scotland by gender (figure reproduced from [40] with permission from the authors and the editorial board of the Quarterly Journal of Medicine). Paracetamol m (); paracetamol f (); antidepressants m (); antipepressants f (); opioid misuse and poisoning m (); and opioid misuse and poisoning f (•).