Intentional self-poisoning in Czech adolescents from 2011 to 2024: multiplicated incidence, changing spectrum of misused substances, and the impact of COVID-19 pandemic

Czech version

Authors: Jan Lebl ¹; Barbora Jírová ¹; Filip Jeřábek ²; David Viktora ³
Authors‘ workplace: Pediatrická klinika, 2. lékařská fakulta, Univerzita Karlova a Fakultní nemocnice v Motole, Praha ¹; student, 2. lékařská fakulta, Univerzita Karlova, Praha ²; student, Fakulta informatiky a statistiky, Vysoká škola ekonomická, Praha ³
Published in: Čes-slov Pediat 2025; 80 (6): 280-285.
Category: Original Papers
doi: https://doi.org/10.55095/CSPediatrie2025/057

Overview

Lebl J, Jírová B, Jeřábek F, Viktora D. Intentional self-poisoning in Czech adolescents from 2011 to 2024: multiplicated incidence, changing spectrum of misused substances, and the impact of COVID-19 pandemic

Pediatric inpatient wards in the Czech Republic and other countries are facing an increasing influx of adolescent patients with intentional self-poisoning (ISP). The aim of this retrospective analysis was to assess the incidence of ISP, the types of substances used, patient age, and seasonality among those acutely hospitalized at the Department of Pediatrics, Motol University Hospital, over a 14-year period. Between 2011 and 2024, a total of 1,038 patients were admitted due to ISP (807 girls and 231 boys; sex difference p < 0.0001). The annual number increased from 21 cases in 2011 to 197 in 2024. The predominance of girls became particularly evident from the pandemic years 2020–2021, when the steepest annual rise occurred and has since persisted. The proportion of ISP-related admissions among all hospitalized rose from 0.5–0.6% (2011–2014) to 3.6% (2024). Prescription medications—most often the patient’s own—were the leading cause (326 cases), followed by alcohol (191), combinations of drugs available at home (185), over-the-counter medications, mainly paracetamol (178), and illicit drugs (84). Among boys, the highest proportions of ISP were caused by alcohol (32%) and illicit drugs (16%), whereas among girls by their own prescribed medication (32%), analgesics/antipyretics (19%), and combinations of drugs (18%). The age at the time of ISP and the place of residence (Prague/outside Prague) remained unchanged. Over the study period, the previously observed protective effect of summer school holidays diminished, which may indicate a shift in the motivation behind ISP—from school-related stress toward other contributing factors. The analysis of these trends may provide a basis for strengthening adolescent mental health care at the population level and for developing targeted prevention of risk behaviors.

Keywords:

COVID-19 – suicidal behavior – self-harm – intentional self-poisoning – adolescent health

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