Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare the characteristics of suicide attempts by drug overdose between adolescents and adults, and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of multi-disciplinary emergency consultation system (MECS) for suicide ...
Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare the characteristics of suicide attempts by drug overdose between adolescents and adults, and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of multi-disciplinary emergency consultation system (MECS) for suicide attempters with drug overdose.
Materials and Methods: The effect of the MECS on suicide attempters with drug overdose was verified by comparing and analyzing the 1-year period from June 1, 2017 to May 31, 2018 (before the MECS was implemented; pre-MECS), and the 1-year period from June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019 (after MECS was implemented; post-MECS). The data were retrospectively reviewed for a total of 251 patients with suicide attempts by drug overdose who visited the emergency room of a university hospital in Seoul during the period.
Results: The adolescent group showed more use of painkillers and less of psychoactive drugs as drugs for suicide attempt (p < 0.01), more impulsive attempts than planned ones (p < 0.01), lower levels of sincerity for suicide (p = 0.04), lower levels of suicide fatality (p = 0.02), and less serious suicide attempts (p = 0.02), compared to the adult group. Adolescents in the post-MECS group showed decreased ICU costs (p = 0.01) and decreased 6-month costs (p = 0.02), compared to those in the pre-MECS group. Adolescents, both with serious attempts (p < 0.01) and non-serious attempts (p < 0.01) in the post-MECS group showed decreased ICU costs, compared to those in the pre-MECS group. Adults with non-serious attempts in the post-MECS group showed decreased ICU costs (p < 0.01), compared to those in the pre-MECS group.
Conclusion: Difficulty in impulse control and immature decision-making processes in adolescents could make them vulnerable to internal confusion and external influences, often leading to accidental suicides. Quick cooperation of the multidisciplinary department has reduced unnecessary ICU treatments, especially in adolescents and non-serious suicide attempters.