Injury prevention : journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention
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Comparative Study
Characteristics and outcomes of self inflicted pediatric injuries: the role of method of suicide attempt.
To examine the epidemiologic characteristics and clinical outcomes of self inflicted pediatric injuries in relation to the method of suicide attempt. ⋯ Boys and older children tend to use more lethal methods in suicide attempts. Even in this age group, suicide attempts often involve psychiatric disorders and acute abuse of alcohol or other illicit drugs. Firearms are associated with significantly increased risk of inhospital fatality. The clinical outcomes of self inflicted injuries appear to be worse than other injuries treated in the same trauma centers.