Psychiatric Aspects of Acute Poisoning with Tricyclic and Related Antidepressants-A Ten-Year Review

Abstract

The incidence of acute self-poisoning with tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs has increased in recent years so that now approximately 20 per cent ofall acute overdoses in patients above the age of 12 are due to this cause. We report the results of a ten-year review of the psychiatric aspects associated with this poisoning in 316 consecutive patients admitted to a District General Hospital. Fifty-four per cent of these patients had sought medical advice in the period immediately prior to the overdosage. The final psychiatric diagnosis following the poisoning is related to the events previously and an attempt is made to judge how appropriate was the original treatment with antidepressant drugs. The important opportunities for prevention of this poisoning are discussed and suggestions made.