The epidemiology of self‐poisoning in the UK

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Abstract
Self‐poisoning by ingestion or inhalation is common, and it is important to study its various epidemiological manifestations with clear definitions. Data on fatal self‐poisonings are recorded nationally within the UK and are codified according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) revision relevant at the time. Most fatal self‐poisonings are codified as suicides, accidental deaths or undetermined deaths (‘open verdicts’). Non‐fatal self‐poisoning data, whether accidental or as a manifestation of deliberate self‐harm, are recorded through hospital discharge information nationally but are not routinely published in the same way as mortality data. The bulk of the UK's published epidemiological information on nonfatal self‐poisoning episodes is largely based on individual hospitals’ admission or discharge records (‘special studies’). After establishing definitions for different self‐poisoning categories we discuss the published data on self‐poisoning as they relate to suicide, accidental self‐poisoning and deliberate self‐harm in the UK.

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