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Ethnic Differences in Self-poisoning: A Comparison of Asian and White Groups

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

John Merrill  and
John Owens
John Merrill*
Affiliation:
All Saints Hospital, Lodge Road, Winson Green, Birmingham, BJ8 5SD
John Owens
Affiliation:
All Saints Hospital and Regional Poisons Unit, Dudley Road Hospital; University of Birmingham
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

The characteristics of Asian patients admitted to a Birmingham hospital following deliberate self-poisoning were compared with those of British-born white self-poisoners. Asian patients were more likely to be young, female, and married. They were less likely to have previously self-poisoned, received previous psychiatric treatment, be diagnosed psychiatrically ill, or suffer from a personality disorder. Culture conflict was common among the Asian patients and was present in the majority of unmarried Asian females. The rate of self-poisoning for Asian females was higher than for white females, but for Asian males was lower than for white males.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 148 , Issue 6 , June 1986 , pp. 708 - 712
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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