MEDIA INFLUENCE ON PARASUICIDE - A STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF A TELEVISION DRAMA PORTRAYAL OF PARACETAMOL SELF-POISONING

Background. Paracetamol self-poisoning, which carries a significant ri sk of fatal liver damage, is increasing in the UK, especially among ad olescents. There is concern that media portrayal of suicidal behaviour may influence its occurrence. We have investigated the effects of two broadcasts of a television drama showing a teenage girl's overdose of paracetamol. Method. Data from the Oxford Monitoring System for Attem pted Suicide were used to examine changes in the number of overdoses a nd the use of paracetamol in the three week period before and after bo th broadcasts. An analysis of log-linear models was carried out, using additional data from two previous years, in order to control for the effects of gender, age group, time period, season, year and drug. A qu estionnaire was used to ascertain whether the programme had influenced patients' decisions to take an overdose or their choice of drug. Resu lts. An increase in paracetamol overdoses occurred following the first broadcast, but when data from the two previous years were examined an d the log-linear analysis was used there was no evidence of significan t effects attributable to the broadcasts. The questionnaire study reve aled that very few people had seen either episode, and only two claime d that it had influenced them (one in terms of getting help). Conclusi ons. It is important to use sound methodology to avoid interpreting ch ance fluctuations as a media effect. The potential positive benefits o f such programmes should also be investigated.