Psychiatry - Suicide Flashcards
1
Q
Suicide?
A
- Fatal act of self-harm initiated with the intention of ending one’s own life.
- Although often seen as impulsive, it may be associated with years of suicidal behaviour including suicidal ideation or acts of deliberate self-harm
2
Q
Suicide?
Epidemiology?
A
- 2012: 5,981 suicides in the UK in people over the age of 15
- Male suicides are three times as common
- The highest suicide rate is in men aged 40-44
- Suicide rates in 2012 in the UK were higher than five years before, but lower than 20 years before. Suicides in the under-25 age group have significantly reduced in the last 20 years
- The most common methods of suicide are hanging, strangulation and suffocation, followed by poisoning
- 50% of people who take their own lives have previously attempted to harm themselves
3
Q
Suicide?
Aetiology?
A
Risk factors for suicide:
- Previous suicide attempt or previous self-harm
- Male gender (three times more likely than women)
- Age (currently highest in the age group 40-44 years)
- Concurrent mental disorders or previous psychiatric treatment
- Unemployment
- Homelessness
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- Physically disabling or painful illness, including chronic pain
- Low socio-economic status, loss of a job
- Certain professions - this has changed in recent years
- Low social support/living alone
- Significant life events - bereavement, family breakdown
- Institutionalised e.g. prisons, army
- Bullying (sometimes a factor in children and adolescents where social media and/or pro-suicide websites play a part)
4
Q
Suicide?
Assessment & Management?
A
- Through Hx taking – psychiatric Hx which will include risk factors, intent of plans, current risk, assess needs
- Care plans
- Medication, counselling, CBT, DBT
- High risk patient – compulsory hospitalisation
