Alcoholism - the psycho-social status in relation to alcohol ingestion in

victims of suicide by hanging

Department of Forensic Medicine – IML MureșSenior Lecturer Hădărean Viorel, MD

Marinela-Radiana Faur, 6th Year Faculty of MedicineCo-Authors: Nicolae Stanciu, Bogdan Daniel Jerdea, Oana-Petronela Dîrțu

Introduction

• Suicide by hanging is one of the major causes of violent death

• Hanging associated with alcohol ingestion is one of the most common methods of suicide worldwide and has become a public health issue– Zerbini et al. - Blood alcohol levels in suicide by hanging cases in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil; J

Forensic Leg Med. 2012 Jul;19(5):294-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2012.02.022. Epub 2012 Mar 16– Azmak - Asphyxial deaths: a retrospective study and review of the literature; Am J Forensic Med

Pathol. 2006 Jun;27(2):134-44.– Kanchan et. Al - Methods of choice in completed suicides: gender differences and review of literature;

J Forensic Sci. 2009 Jul;54(4):938-42. doi: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2009.01054.x. Epub 2009 Apr 17.

Objectives

• Epidemiological Profile• Evaluation of blood alcohol concentrations in

victims of suicide by hanging in the Mureș county

Material and Methods

• Cross-sectional study• 93 victims • Department’s archive– Follow-ups of similar attributes

Results – Gender Distribution

Results – AgeNumber of Patients

7,53%

11,83% 11,83%

16,13%

22,58%20,43%

9,69%

Results – Ethnicity

Results – Environment

Results – Place of Death

Results – Marital Status

Results – Psycho-Medical History

13,18%

5,38%3,23% 1,08%

ResultsCorrelation Marital Status and Psycho-Medical History

Results – Blood Alcohol Level (at time of autopsy)

2,15%

8,6%

30,10%

9,67%

49,46%

Total: 50,52%

Results – Blood Alcohol Level (at time of autopsy)

Results – Blood Alcohol Level (at time of autopsy)

Results – Blood Alcohol Level (at time of autopsy)

15,05%16,13%

1,08%

4,30%3,23%

1,08%

Results – Post-Mortem Examination

100%

69,89%

25,81%34,41%

55,91%

81,72%70,79%

54,84%

21,51%31,18%

Discussion

• Collected data was statistically analyzed, evaluated and interpreted– Demographic and epidemiological profile was

established– Blood alcohol level, demographics and psychiatric

disorders were put in correlation

Discussion

• Findings were compared to current existing literature and articles– Retrospective review of 100 consecutive, non-

decomposed cases of suicide because of hanging was conducted at Forensic Science SA, Australia. Alcohol was detected in 38 cases (38%)

(Tse et al. Alcohol ingestion and age of death in hanging suicides; J Forensic Sci. 2011 Jul;56(4):922-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01751.x. Epub 2011 Mar 21.)

Discussion

• Findings were compared to current existing literature and articles– Alcohol was detected (>0.20 g/L) in femoral blood

in 30% of hanging suicides (mean 1.39 g/L) (Jones et al. - Toxicology findings in suicides: concentrations of ethanol and other drugs in

femoral blood in victims of hanging and poisoning in relation to age and gender of the deceased; J Forensic Leg Med. 2013 Oct;20(7):842-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2013.06.027. Epub 2013 Aug 8.)

Conclusion

• Higher values for alcohol ingestion in male victims and from rural environments• Predominantly male victims (84%) committed

suicide by hanging• Depression was found to be main psychiatric

disorder in examined cases