Suicide

Question 1

How many million suicides are there worldwide per year?

Answer 1

1 million suicides per year and 10-20x more attempts

Question 2

Suicide is the ____ (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th) leading cause of death in people ages 10-34 in the USA

Answer 2

3rd

Question 3

Dave is depressed. Lately, he has been tired, losing weight, has been unable to sleep, has a depressed mood, and has decreased libido. He has a family history of suicide attempt, a past history of a suicide attempt, and currently has suicidal ideation with a plan to overdose on pain medications. You are Dave’s psychiatrist and are assessing his risk. What are Dave’s risk factors for committing suicide?

Answer 3

1. past hx of suicide attempt
2. family hx of suicide attempt.
3. current suicidal ideation
4. HAVING A PLAN TO COMMIT SUICIDE

Question 4

Suicide is presumed to have a ______model, meaning that high risk patients have a predisposition to a suicidal behavior and also a stressor event.

Answer 4

stress-diathesis model

Question 5

Untreated acute psychiatric illness is a common stressor in a stress-diathesis model of suicidal ideation. 60% of such illnesses are cases of __________.

Answer 5

a major depressive episode

Question 6

Vulnerabilities/diatheses/predispositions to suicide include:

Answer 6

• impulsive/aggressive traits (tendency to act on powerful feelings)
• severe depression + hopelessness
• earlier onset depressive illness (e.g. childhood)
• impaired problem-solving or cognitive rigidity
• personal or family hx of suicide attempt

Question 7

Decreased levels of what neurotransmitter (secondary to having fewer neurons) causes increased hopelessness or pessimism?

Answer 7

Norepinephrine

Question 8

A genetic deficiency of what neurotransmitter leads to increased impulsivity?

Answer 8

serotonin