Suicide and NSSI Flashcards
Suicide ideation
involves having thoughts of killing oneself or of being dead. The ASIQ (adult suicidal ideation questionnaire) by Reynolds is what researchers usually use to screen suicidal thoughts.
Suicidal behavior
: a broad term that includes all actions related to suicide and actions related to suicide that did not result in an attempt, such as gathering bottles of pills (without taking them).
Suicidal intent
involves having a plan for how to kill oneself and intending to carry that plan out. This is a alerting sign since people who talk about suicide many times commit it.
Suicide attempt
occurs when an individual intends to take his or her life, acts on that intent, but does not die. It is hard to decide how many suicide attempts there are, becauce some suicide attempts results in dying.
Suicide completion
occurs when an individual intendes to take his or her own life and dies as a result.
Theories of suicide
Edwin Shneidman: he believed that the decision of suicide comes from a psychological pain, called psychache.
Aaron Beck: states that suicide results from a cognition which involves hopelessness. This means these people think that things will not get better in the future.
Thomas Joiner: his theory is the most recent and consists of 3 factors:
“ Dissatisfied belongingness
“ Perceived burdensomeness
“ Acquired ability to enact lethal self-injury
Warning signs of suicide
” Hopelessness
“ Rage, anger, seeking revenge
“ Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking
“ Feeling trapped
“ Increasing alcohol or drug use
“ Withdrawing from friends, family or society
“ Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time
Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI)
It refers to the intentional destruction of one’s own body tissue without suicidal intent and for purposes not socially sanctioned (cutting, burning, scratching etc). It is usually associated with emotional and psychological distress, and NSSI increases the risk for suicide. NSSI is most common among adolescents and young adults and there is no gender difference. Typically, 13, 14 year old teens do it. Lifetime rates in these populations are about 15-20%. NSSI are highest among psychiatric populations, specially who are depressed or anxious. NSSI is a strong predictor of future suicide attempts, even stronger than a history of past suicide attempts.
Reasons for NSSI
NSSI most commonly functions to (temporarily) alleviate overwhelming negative emotions. Intense negative emotions precede NSSI, and the performance of NSSI results in reduced negative emotions as well as feelings of calm and relief. One-half of people report that they self-injure as a form of self-directed anger or self-punishment. NSSI can also occur with the desire to influence other or to produce a physical sign of emotional distress.
