self-poisoning
Last reviewed 01/2018
Most cases of self-poisoning are intentional in adults but are usually accidental in children. Ninety percent of adults who deliberately harm themselves choose drug overdose.
Initial management should be as a medical emergency:
- assessment and resuscitation
- substance identification
- elimination
- specific and general treatment
- period of observation
Ideally, this should be followed by a full psychological assessment of the reasons for the attempted suicide and the risk of a repeat.