Demographic, Psychiatric, and Toxicological Factors Associated With Intentional Poisoning: A Cross-Sectional Study of Hospital Emergency Department Registry Data.

Background and Aims: Intentional poisoning is a major public health challenge requiring rapid emergency intervention. This study aimed to identify demographic, psychiatric, and toxicological factors associated with intentional poisoning among patients presenting to a hospital emergency department. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 658 poisoning cases recorded in a hospital emergency department poisoning registry in Ilam, Iran (March 2022-March 2023), with linked medical-record data reviewed after the index encounter. The primary outcome was a final binary classification of intentional versus unintentional poisoning. Categorical associations were examined using Pearson chi-square tests or Fisher exact tests as appropriate. A multivariable logistic regression model included five prespecified clinical/psychiatric variables and estimated adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Analyses used Stata version 11.0 ( Results: Of 658 patients, 367 (55.8%) were classified as intentional poisoning and 291 (44.2%) as unintentional. Intentional poisoning was more frequent among women than men (194/279, 69.5% vs. 173/379, 45.6%; Conclusions: Intentional poisoning was associated with distinct demographic patterns and psychiatric vulnerability, particularly a history of previous suicide attempts. These findings support systematic mental health assessment in emergency poisoning care and prevention strategies focused on patients with established self-harm history and access to highly lethal agents.