| Toxicologic findings in suicide: a 10-year retrospective review of Kentucky medical examiner cases. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 16738426 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Toxicologic analysis is an integral component in the investigation of suicide and requires correlation with a detailed scene inspection, with an extensive exploration into the decedent's medical and social background to uncover suicidal ideation or intent and a postmortem examination of the body. In this review, the authors analyzed 2864 cases classified as suicide upon autopsy and toxicologic examinations between 1993 and 2002 in the Kentucky Division of Medical Examiner's Services. Blood and urine were collected in 95.0% and 72.3% of cases, respectively. A total of 32.5% of the victims had negative blood toxicologic results, and 52.7% of urine toxicology screens yielded no drugs. Analysis of the data indicated that 3 times as many women had taken antidepressants and more than twice as many had consumed opioids. Drug toxicity ("overdose") ranked as the third (9.9%) leading cause of suicide after firearm injury (67.5%) and hanging (13.7%). Women succumbed to drug toxicity more than men (27.5% versus 5.9%). Of the overdose deaths, 66.5% had a negative blood alcohol concentration (BAC), while antidepressants, opioids, and benzodiazepines were detected in blood in 54.4%, 37.4%, and 29.2% of the subjects, respectively. The collection of these data serves the goals of public health and clinicians in devising strategies for suicide prevention. |
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Authors:
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Lisa B E Shields; Donna M Hunsaker; John C Hunsaker; Michael K Ward |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology Volume: 27 ISSN: 0195-7910 ISO Abbreviation: Am J Forensic Med Pathol Publication Date: 2006 Jun |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2006-06-01 Completed Date: 2006-11-21 Revised Date: 2011-02-02 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 8108948 Medline TA: Am J Forensic Med Pathol Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 106-12 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Louisville, Kentucky, USA. |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Adolescent Adult Aged Aged, 80 and over Amphetamines / blood, urine Analgesics, Opioid / blood, poisoning, urine Antidepressive Agents / blood, poisoning, urine Benzodiazepines / blood, poisoning, urine Cannabinoids / blood, poisoning, urine Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / mortality Central Nervous System Depressants / blood, urine Child Cocaine / blood, poisoning, urine Cyanides / poisoning Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / blood, poisoning, urine Ethanol / blood, urine Ethylene Glycol / poisoning Female Forensic Medicine Humans Kentucky Male Methods Middle Aged Neck Injuries / mortality Overdose / mortality Retrospective Studies Sex Distribution Suicide / statistics & numerical data* Wounds, Gunshot / mortality |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Amphetamines; 0/Analgesics, Opioid; 0/Antidepressive Agents; 0/Cannabinoids; 0/Central Nervous System Depressants; 0/Cyanides; 0/Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; 107-21-1/Ethylene Glycol; 12794-10-4/Benzodiazepines; 50-36-2/Cocaine; 64-17-5/Ethanol |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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