Suicide attempt by caustic soda intake psychological and social aspects: Serious case report

Abstract

The caustic soda and corrosive substance intake, as an adult suicide attempt, has been a frequent occurrence, causing serious esophagus burn and suffering. The success on the treatment of a patient with a depressive episode depends essentially on the physician-patient relationship quality. The Psychologist and Social Worker have a vital role, rescuing family bonds and thus, promoting their reinsertion as a rights holder and rescue of their self-esteem, which were lost with time, inserting the family in the disease-health and recovery process. The study had the application of specific questionnaires by Psychologist, followed by service and interview by the Social Worker. It was performed during the admission in a 14-month period. The patient was operated to reconstruct the food traffic. During the evolution, the patient presented serious repetition pneumonias, had the definitive tracheostomy, starting to intake liquid and pasty foods by oral administration easily. The patient presented serious depressive situation, mild anxiety and with suicide ideas. The Psychologist and Social Worker were linked to this care, referring the case to the Psychosocial Care Center (CAPS), where it is being carried out with daily activities, in addition to the territorial support from the Social Assistance Reference Center (CRAS). Although it is a benign acquired disease, the existing complications may limit or prevent the normal life and life quality of people who are sick. It is important and essential for the patients with these complications to have multidisciplinary support from the team taking care of him/her, mainly from the psychologic, social and human point of view.