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Parasuicide in young Edinburgh women, 1968–75

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Norman Kreitman  and
M. Schreiber
Norman Kreitman*
Affiliation:
MRC Unit for Epidemiological Studies in Psychiatry, University Department of Psychiatry, Edinburgh
M. Schreiber
Affiliation:
MRC Unit for Epidemiological Studies in Psychiatry, University Department of Psychiatry, Edinburgh
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr N. Kreitman, MRC Unit for Epidemiological Studies in Psychiatry, University Department of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Park, Edinburgh EH10 5HF.
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Synopsis

Between 1968 and 1975 there was a marked, non-artefactual rise in the numbers of young female parasuicides admitted to the Regional Poisoning Treatment Centre in Edinburgh. The greatest increase in rates occurred among girls aged 15–19 (for events, persons and ‘first-ever’ episodes). Among teenagers the most marked increase occurred for those who were married: this group also reported a greater increase than did the non-married in the frequency of physical violence and Serious debt. ‘Marginal’ social-sexual roles have also become progressively more common in this age group. The 20- to 24-year group showed a more modest increase in rates, similar for the married and the non-married. In this age group there was no consistent pattern of change for reported violence or debt over the study period, nor were changes in these variables related to marital status. An increase in consumption of alcohol before parasuicide was noted for both age groups.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 9 , Issue 3 , August 1979 , pp. 469 - 479
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1979

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