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Ethnic Differences in Self-poisoning

A Comparison of West Indian and White Groups

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

John Merrill  and
John Owens
John Merrill*
Affiliation:
Academic Unit, All Saints Hospital
John Owens
Affiliation:
All Saints Hospital and West Midlands Poisons Unit, Dudley Road Hospital, University of Birmingham
*
All Saints Hospital, Lodge Road, Winson Green, Birmingham B18 5SD
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Abstract

The characteristics of West Indian patients admitted to a Birmingham hospital following deliberate self-poisoning were compared with those of White self-poisoners. West Indian patients were more likely to be young, female and single. They were less likely to have previously self-poisoned, have received previous psychiatric treatment, or be suffering from a personality disorder or alcoholism, but were more often followed-up by a social worker. Rates of self-poisoning for those aged under 25 were similar but for those aged over 25 were lower for West Indians than Whites.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 150 , Issue 6 , June 1987 , pp. 765 - 768
Copyright
Copyright © 1987 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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