STRESSORS AMONG PSYCHIATRIC OUT-PATIENTS WITH SUICIDE ATTEMPT ATTENDING TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN EASTERN NEPAL
Keywords:
BPKIHS, mental illness, psychiatry out-patients, stress, stressor, suicide attemptAbstract
Life changes could act as a stressor causing physiological arousal and enhance susceptibility for suicidal behavior. Suicide victims have experienced more changes in living conditions, work problems and object losses than normal controls. Objective of this study was to assess common stressors and stress level among psychiatric out-patients with suicide attempt. It was a descriptive study conducted with purposive sampling in a tertiary care hospital among suicide attempt cases visiting out-patient department of psychiatry. Calculated sample size of 113 cases were enrolled within 1 year period. Stressor factor (stressors, its type-acute or ongoing etc.) was explored and documented in a semi-structured Proforma in all subjects. Stress level was measured with Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Demographic variables were recorded in a semi-structured proforma. Majority of the subjects were female, married and literate, with the commonest age group of 20- 29 and <20 years. Most subjects were homemakers, urban dwellers, Hindu and, were from low socioeconomic status and joint family. Among the patients; 86 (76.1%) had chronic on-going stressor, 23 (20.4%) acute stressor within 1 month and 4 (3.5%) did not reveal any stressor. Common stressor revealed were: economic (22.12%), marital (21.23%), relationship issue (20.35%), physical and mental illness (17.69%), substance use (13.27%), parental issue (6.19%), physical violence (6.19%), and loss or death of close ones (5.30%). Perceived Stress Scale showed 39% with high, 36% moderate and 21% low stress level within past 1 month. Management of suicide cases, hence, integrally involves stress management.
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