Abstract

PERON TOLEDO TREVISAN, Elissa  and  FELIX DE OLIVEIRA, Magda Lúcia. Psychoative drugs: study with women who tried suicide in a city in the south of Brazil. Index Enferm [online]. 2012, vol.21, n.1-2, pp.33-37. ISSN 1699-5988.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1132-12962012000100008.

Objective: To verify the access, availability and purpose of using psychoactive drugs in women's suicide attempts. Methods: Quantitative study, of a series of cases of 20 women attended at a Poison Control Center (Centro de Controle de Intoxicação). Data collection was conducted by means of home visits, applying an interview guide. The results were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Results: Benzodiazepines were the most commonly used drug group (65%). Depression was reported by 85% of women. The majority (90%) used psychoactive drugs, acquired by means of a prescription (95%), to be used in 30 days (45%). Conclusion: Although most drugs were acquired by prescription, it was evident that the easy access to the drugs and the large amount stored by women at home may indicate some relation with the suicide attempt.

Keywords : Suicide attempt; Psychotropic drugs; Women.