Treatment received, satisfaction with health care services, and psychiatric symptoms 3 months after hospitalization for self-poisoning

A cohort of patients who self-poisoned (n = 867) over a period of 1 year received a questionnaire 3 months after discharge. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), and Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) were used. The participation rate was 28% (n = 242); mean age, 41 years; 66% females.Although only 14% of patients were registered without follow-up referrals at discharge, 41% reported no such measures. Overall, satisfaction with treatment was fairly good, although 29% of patients waited more than 3 weeks for their first appointment. A total of 22% reported repeated self-poisoning and 17% cutting. The mean BDI and BHS scores were 23.3 and 10.1, respectively (both moderate to severe). The GSE score was 25.2. BDI score was 25.6 among patients with suicide attempts, 24.9 for appeals, and 20.1 for substance-use-related poisonings.Despite plans for follow-up, many patients reported that they did not receive any. The reported frequency of psychiatric symptoms and self-harm behavior indicate that a more active follow-up is needed.Self-poisoning is a common cause of hospitalization and is associated with complex and serious health problems [1]. Compared with the general population, the suicide risk is higher in self-poisoning patients [2,3]. Mental illness, alcohol and substance misuse, social isolation, and physical health problems increase suicide risk [1]. Further, depression and anxiety are predictors of premature death among drug abusers [4]. Mortality from natural and unnatural causes is significantly increased among these patients compared with the general population [5]. Furthermore, in a previous study from Oslo, nearly 30% of all acute patients hospitalized for poisoning repeated the poisoning during the first year after the index episode [6].The main reasons for self-poisoning are suicidal behavior or related to substance misuse. The intention, however, can be difficult to assess and may vary among different episodes of hospitalizat