119b - Suicide Flashcards
Suicide is the [rank] leading cause of death for all ages in the United States
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death for all ages in the United States
Are men or women more likely to attempt suicide?
Are men or women more likely to die by suicide?
Women are 3x more likely to attempt suicide
Men are 4x more likely to die by suicide
[fraction] of completed suicides are associated with substance use disorder
1/3 of completed suicides are associated with substance use disorder
Treatment of substance use (especially alcohol) is important for suicide prevention!
Which race and gender are at highest risk for suicide?
American Indian men, white men (overall)
American Indian women, white women (among women)
List 6 protective factors that can decrease risk of suicide in high-risk individuals
- Social support
- Treatment: access and engagement
- Personal sense of family responsiblity
- Religious or cultural sanctions against suicide
- Good insight
- Problem-sovling skills
What chronic stresors are associated with increased risk of suicide? (4)
- Social isolation
- Traumatic family background
- Poor health
- Poverty
What are the major modifiable risk factors for suicide?
- Mental illness
- Esp with barriers to treatment
- Physical illness
- Feelings of peronal isolation, hopelessness
- Acess to lethal means
- Local suicide “epidemics”
How has the suicide rate changed since 1999?
Increased (by 35%)
Which diagnosable mental illnesses carry the highest risk of suicide?
- Depression (bipolar and unipolar)
- Alcohol use disorder
- Personality disorders
- Borderline and antisocial
- Psychotic disorders
Which types of psychotherapy may be most beneficial for a patient with suicidal ideation and beehavior?
CBT
Dialectical behavior therapy
What are the major unmodifiable risk factors for suicide?
- Prior attempt
- Family hx of suicide
- Family hx of child maltreatment
- Hx of aggression or impulsivity
- Recent interpersonal loss
- Cultural/religious beliefs
Diagnosable mental illness is found in [zero/some/most] completed suicides
Diagnosable mental illness is found in most completed suicides
Especially depression, alcohol use disorder
Suicide causes [more/less] deaths than homicide
Suicide causes more deaths than homicide
How many people in the US die by suicide annually?
45,000
What acute stresors are associated with increased risk of suicide? (5)
- Breakup
- Financial loss
- Job loss
- Legal problem
- Medical illness
Alocohol intoxication (BAC >0.08) has been found in [fraction] of suicides by firearms, hanging, or poisoning
Alocohol intoxication (BAC >0.08) has been found in 1/3 of suicides by firearms, hanging, or poisoning
Treatment of substance use (especially alcohol) is important for suicide prevention!
List 5 public health strategies for suicide prevention
- Restrict access to common lethal means
- Restrict gun access, barriers at bridges, prescription guidelines
- Media guidelines
- Improve access to medical care (including mental health)
- Promote social connectedness
- Improve economic opportunity
What are the “4 types of suicide,” according to sociologic theory?
- Egotistical (lack of social integration
- Altruistic (excessive integration with social institutions)
- Anomic (precipitated by an acute stressor)
- Fatalistic (unrewarding life)
Suicide rates are highest for which age group of women?
Which age group of men?
Which age group in general?
- Women: 45-64
- Men: 75+
- In general: 75+
A patient expresses suicidal ideation to you
What factors would promote you to hospitalize them?
If they are an acute high risk of suicide
- Risk factors: recent suicide attempt, recent breakup, financial/job loss, legal problem, medical illness
- Expresses a plan w/a timeline
Define suicidal behavior disorder
- Suicidal behavior disorder = w/in the last 24 months, the individual has made a suicide attempt
Define non-suicidal self injury (NSSI):
- Non-suicidal self injury (NSSI) = intentional self-inflicted damage to surface of body w/ expectation that will cause only mild to moderate physical harm (no suicidal intent) (ex. cutting)
What are the descriptors used to assess the lethality of a suicide attempt?
-
low risk, high rescue: patient takes small number of aspirin and immediately tells a friend
- low risk, low rescue: patient attempts to slash wrist w/ piece of glass while home alone
- high risk, high rescue: during argument on the 10th floor, patient shouts “I’m going to jump” and lunges for the balcony
- high risk, low rescue: patient buys a gun and rents hotel room under false name THE WORST
-
low risk, high rescue: patient takes small number of aspirin and immediately tells a friend
