Health-related limiting conditions as risk factors for medication-induced suicide attempts among women: a cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1679-9836.v105i5e-243716Keywords:
Suicide, Women, VulnerabilityAbstract
Introduction: Suicide is a multifactorial phenomenon that disproportionately affects women. Chronic health conditions and psychiatric disorders may heighten vulnerability and increase the severity of suicidal behaviors. Objective: To evaluate whether health- limiting conditions are associated with the occurrence and clinical severity of suicide attempts by medication ingestion in women. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at a public emergency hospital. Medical records of women treated after suicide attempts by drug ingestion were analyzed. Sociodemographic, clinical, and psychiatric variables were collected. Associations between health-limiting conditions and severity of suicide attempts were examined using chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: Psychiatric disorders were identified in 72% of the cases, with mood disorders being the most prevalent. Chronic diseases were also common and showed a significant association with greater clinical severity of attempts. Health-limiting conditions, especially mental disorders, correlated strongly with indicators of severe suicide attempts. Conclusion: Health-limiting conditions, particularly psychiatric disorders, were significantly associated with increased severity of suicide attempts by medication ingestion. These findings reinforce the need for integrated clinical and mental-health strategies to prevent self-harm behaviors among women.
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