Suicide

Question 1

True or False: Suicidal patients come to primary care doctors more often than psychiatrists.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

True or False: Suicidal patients often come with vague somatic complaints.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

In one study of suicide victims, _____% saw their MD during the 6 months before death and _____% within a month of dying.

Answer 3

80, 50

Question 4

_____% of patients who overdosed did so within a week of being prescribed a lethal amount of medication.

Answer 4

50

Question 5

What are the 3 general risk factors for suicide?

Answer 5

Mental illness, substance abuse, psychosocial crisis

Question 6

What are 3 character traits that are risk factors for suicide?

Answer 6

Hopelessness, helplessness, impulsivity

Question 7

True or False: 20% of people who complete suicide test positive for opiates, including heroin and narcotics

Answer 7

True

Question 8

True or False: 33% of people who complete suicide test positive for alcohol

Answer 8

True. Impulsivity

Question 9

True or False: Marijuana is a risk factor for suicide

Answer 9

True

Question 10

True or False: Nearly all suicide events are associated with an adverse life event in the preceding year.

Answer 10

True.

This is most strongly associated with young, male, impulsive, personality-disordered, and substance abusing individuals.

Impulsivity is key because crises pass.

Question 11

True or False: Suicide is a contagious idea

Answer 11

True

Question 12

True or False: Acute violence (e.g. domestic violence) is associated with impulsive suicide

Answer 12

True

Question 13

True or False: childhood violence and abuse increases adult risk of helpless suicide

Answer 13

True

Question 14

True or False: Suicide is inversely associated with measures of religiosity

Answer 14

True

Question 15

True or False: Access to a firearm is a risk factor for suicide

Answer 15

True

Question 16

Do men or women complete suicide more often? How about age?

Answer 16

Older men

Question 17

Is there a correlation between high altitude and suicide?

Answer 17

Yes. strange

Question 18

True or False: Advanced degrees, except medical degrees, are protective of suicide

Answer 18

True

Question 19

What are 4 common clinical mistakes when investigating SI?

Answer 19

• Not interviewing the patient in private, especially if mate or parents don’t want to leave.
• Not getting info from family and friends particularly if the patient’s story is vague or leaves many unanswered questions.
• Labeling the patient’s behavior as “manipulative” or “attention-seeking” thus minimizing its seriousness.
• Neglecting to ask about presence of weapons, pills, etc.

Question 20

True or False: Suicide and homocide are frequently linked

Answer 20

True

Question 21

What’s the most common homocide-suicide scenario?

Answer 21

Man kills woman and then kills himself

Question 22

What is the goal for healthcare professionals for SI?

Answer 22

Intervene, especially in acute crisis, to reduce helplessness, hopelessness, and impulsivity