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Comparative Hypnotic Efficacy of “Phenaglate”

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 February 2018

M. D. Eilenberg
Affiliation:
Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals
I. Lodge Patch
Affiliation:
Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals
E. H. Hare
Affiliation:
Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals

Extract

The widespread use of barbiturates as hypnotics for insomnia has greatly increased the risk of accidental overdosage and the number of suicidal attempts. The size of the problem concerning barbiturates and suicidal attempts is difficult to estimate as only suicidal deaths are recorded by the Registrar General, and his statistics for 1956 (R.G., 1958) reveal that out of a total of 5,282 suicidal deaths, drugs (mainly barbiturates) were second only to domestic coal gas poisoning as the effective agent. Stengel (1958) calculated that six times the number of suicidal deaths gives an approximate estimate of the number of attempted suicides. Locket and Angus (1952) found that of the patients admitted to their Unit, barbiturates were the drug involved in 80 per cent. of the cases and that in 90 per cent. of the cases it had been prescribed for the treatment of insomnia. Locket (1958) also estimated that some 6,000 patients were admitted annually to hospitals in England and Wales for treatment of barbiturate poisoning.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1960 

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