Demographic variables and related Mental Disorders of Parasuicide Psychiatric Patients
Studies of parasuicide in the general population indicate that where there is one person committing suicide, there is a possibility of 8-10 people that fail, and mental illness is one of the major contributors to suicide. This study was an archival epidemiological survey to determine the prevalence of parasuicide in relation to demographic variables and related mental disorders. Files of 248 patients who were admitted at Butabika Hospital because of parasuicide were analyzed. Most patients came from Kampala District, tended to be young (15-39 years), came from the student population and were unmarried. Common methods used were hanging, drowning, self poisoning and overdose. Women tended to use less physical lethal methods. Many of the subjects suffered from more than one mental disorder