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Mental Health > Suicide and Self-Harm > Flashcards

Suicide and Self-Harm Flashcards

1
Q

Define suicide

A

A fatal act of self injury, undertaken with conscious self-destructive intent.

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2
Q

Define para-suicide

A

A conscious act of self-destruction, with fatal intent. However, this differs from suicide as the victim manages to survive the attempt.

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3
Q

Define deliberate self harm

A

An act of self harm without the intention of death.

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4
Q

Outline the worldwide epidemiology of suicide

A

1 million people commit suicide worldwide each year.

It is among the top 10 causes of death in most countries.

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5
Q

Which demographic is at highest risk of suicide?

A

Male (3:1), especially aged 45-59.

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6
Q

When in regards to healthcare services, are mental health patients at highest risk of suicide?

A

Inpatient stay

14-day post-discharge

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7
Q

List 4 risk factors for suicide

A 
Male sex (3:1)
Increasing age
Unemployment or social isolation
Divorced or widowed
Hx of mental illness (especially depression, schizophrenia)
Hx of deliberate self harm
Alcohol or drug misuse
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8
Q

Name 3 factors associated with risk of suicide following deliberate self harm

A 
Efforts to avoid discovery
Planning
Written note
Final acts
Violent method
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9
Q

What factors increase the risk of inpatient suicide?

A 
Forensic Hx
Previous suicidal behaviour
Violence to property
Recent bereavement
Delusions
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10
Q

What factors increase the risk of post-discharge suicide?

A

Unplanned discharge
Lack of continuity of care
Unemployment
Previous suicidal behaviour

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11
Q

What is the impact of depression on lifetime risk of suicide?

A

Increase by 15%

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12
Q

What aspects of depression increase the risk of suicide?

A 
Greater severity of depression
Self neglect
Hopelessness
Alcohol abuse
Impaired concentration
History of suicidal behaviour
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13
Q

What is the impact of schizophrenia on lifetime risk of suicide?

A

Increase by 10-15%

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14
Q

What aspects of schizophrenia increase the risk of suicide?

A 
Psychotic symptoms
Post-psychotic depression
Young male
First decade of illness
Relapsing illness pattern
Good insight
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15
Q

What is the impact of alcohol abuse on lifetime risk of suicide?

A

Increase by 2-4%

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16
Q

What aspects of alcohol abuse increase the risk of suicide?

A 
Male sex
Longer duration of issues
Single, divorced, widowed
Multiple substance abuse
Comorbid depression
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17
Q

What is the impact of personality disorders on lifetime risk of suicide?

A

<10% increase

EUPD has highest risk, commonly manifesting as accidental death.

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18
Q

How are suicide and chronic physical illness associated?

A

Increased risk in chronic neurological, GI, CV disorders, and cancer.

Severe chronic pain increases risk of depression.

Disfigurement, especially in women.

Effect on job, role, family, and finance.

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19
Q

What are the 2 main types of deliberate self-harm?

A

Self-poisoning

Self-injury

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20
Q

Outline the epidemiology of deliberate self-harm in the UK

A

150,000 new attendances at A&E per year
Higher rate in females
Peak age 15-44

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21
Q

What is the impact of deliberate self-harm on risk of suicide?

A

40-60% increase in risk of suicide

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22
Q

What is the risk of suicide within one year of deliberate self-harm?

A
  1. 7%
  2. 1% if male
  3. 5% if female
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23
Q

Name 3 risk factors for repeated self-harm

A 
Previous self harm
Psychiatric Hx
Unemployment, low SE
Hx trauma or abuse
Forensic Hx or violence
Single, divorced, separated
Family Hx - 4x risk
24
Q

List motives for acts of deliberate self-harm

A

Wish to die
Cry for help
Communication
Unbearable symptoms

25
Q

What psychological characteristics contribute to deliberate self-harm?

A

Impulsivity
Cognitive rigidity
Problem-solving deficits
Hopelessness

26
Q

Describe the association between substance abuse and deliberate self-harm

A

Substance abuse occurs commonly at the time or before DSH.

Alcohol can increase the dangers of overdose. It also increases the toxicity of psychotropic drugs,

Intoxication may result in unconsciousness and delayed treatment.

27
Q

Outline the risk assessment of suicide

A

Risk factors: dynamic, static, modifiable
Specific suicide inquiry
Protective factors

28
Q

What should be included in the specific suicide inquiry?

A

Triggers

Preparation:
planning, final acts

Circumstance:
precaution against discovery, alcohol, the suicide act, pt thought and desires of outcome

After act:
Sought help?, regret, intent, future plans

29
Q

What risk management options exist regarding suicide?

A

Treat any underlying psychiatric disorders

Inpatient: closer supervision, Tx adherence, staff training, safer environment

30
Q

Outline the association between psychiatric disorder and homicide (risk to others)

A

Delayed sleep phase disorder, substance misuse, and schizophrenia cause a small increase risk to others.

Mood disorders have no increased risk to others.

Psychotic disorders increase the risk to others by persecutory psychosis and command auditory hallucinations.

31
Q

What information is required if child protection may be involved in psychiatry?

A

Child’s name, DOB, residence, relationship

32
Q

What are the stages involved in management of self harm?

A 
1 Acute management - suture wound, antidotes
2 Assess risk - consider MHA section 2
3 Treat psychiatric issue
4 Resolve social issues
5 Future planning
33
Q

What can be given acutely for self-poisoning?

A

Activated charcoal - if within 1 hour of ingestion - reduce absorption

34
Q

What is the antidote for paracetamol OD?

A

N-Acetylcysteine

35
Q

What is the antidote for Opiate OD?

A

Naloxone

36
Q

What is the antidote for Benzodiazepine OD? Why is it never actually given in practice?

A

Flumazenil
Patients over take a mixed OD with TCAs and the benzodiazepines prevent TCA related seizures occurring. Therefore if you reverse the benzodiazepines the patient is likely to seize

37
Q

What is the antidote for beta blocker OD?

A

Glucagon

38
Q

What is the antidote for tricyclic antidepressant OD?

A

Sodium bicarbonate

39
Q

What is the antidote for organophosphate poisoning?

A

Atropine

40
Q

What are the protective factors against suicide?

A

Supportive family
Children
Religious belief

41
Q

How can you try to prevent suicide?

A 
Public education
Reduce access to means to suicide - safe prescribing
Rapid access to care - samaritans
Decrease societal stressors
Reduce substance misuse
National suicide prevention lifeline
42
Q

What in a history would make you think suicide was an attempt at killing oneself vs a cry for help?

A

Tried to avoid discovery
Planned rather than spontaneous
Wrote a note
Sorted out affairs like finances, pet care

43
Q

What are the risk factors for deliberate self harm?

A 
Divorced, single, living alone
Severe life stressors
Harmful drug/alcohol use
Less than 35
Chronic physical health problems
Violence - domestic or childhood maltreatment
Socioeconomic disadvantage
Psychiatric illness e.g. depression or psychosis
44
Q

What motives should be asked about in deliberate self harm?

A

DRIPS

Death wish - genuine wish to die
Relief - seeking unconsciousness or pain as a means of temp relief and escape from problems
Influencing others - trying to influence another person to change their views or behaviour
Punishment
Seeking attention

45
Q

What is seen on mental state exam in deliberate self harm?

A

Obvious self inflicted injuries
Patient may be tearful or exhibit signs of neglect
Behaviour may reflect an underlying mental disorder
Thoughts may include feelings of guilt, worthlessness or helplessness.

Hallucinations may be present in cases of schizophrenia and depression with psychosis
DSH may be triggered by command hallucinations

Concentration impaired
Insight varies

46
Q

What are the investigations for DSH?

A 
Bloods
Paracetamol levels
Salicylate levels if suspected overdose
U&Es for renal function
LFTs and clotting - synthetic hepatic function

CT head if an intracranial cause for altered consciousness suspected, in self-poisoning

Lumbar puncture if intracranial infection e.g. meningitis, suspected in self-poisoning

47
Q

What are the differentials for self-poisoning?

A

Head trauma, intracranial haemorrhage, intracranial infection e.g. meningitis
Metabolic abnormalities
Liver disease

48
Q

What are the differentials for self-injury?

A

Clotting disorders causing significant bruising or bleeding

Not investigations and differentials are dependent on the method of self harm

49
Q

What is the biopsychosocial model of management for deliberate self-harm?

A

Biological
Treat any overdose with appropriate antidote
Suturing and anti tetanus if appropriate for deep lacerations

Psychological
Counselling
CBT for underlying illness
Psychodynamic psychotherapy if personality disorder

Social
Social services input, voluntary organisations e.g. samaritans, mind

50
Q

What are the general points of management of deliberate self harm?

A

Acute management - antidotes, suturing, any surgical input

Manage high risk suicide - complete full risk assessment, consider inpatient psychiatric assessment

Treat any psychiatric disorder

Enable patient to resolve any difficulties that led to act e.g. refer to drug and alcohol services, offer financial and occupational rehabilitation

Enable patient to manage future crises - offer info, arrange follow up, remove access to means of DSH e.g. prescribe limited amount of meds

51
Q

What is the mnemonic for suicide risk factors?

A

IM A SAD PERSON

Institutionalised
Mental health disorders

Alone

Sex - male
Age - middle aged
Depression

Previous attempts
Ethanol use
Rational thinking lost
Sickness
Occupation
No job - unemployed
52
Q

What are the clinical features of someone who is attempting suicide?

A

Preoccupation with death - thoughts, fantasies, ruminations

Sense of isolation and withdrawal from society

Emotional distance from others

Distraction and lack of pleasure, in their own world and suffer from anhedonia

Focus on past, dwell on past losses and defeats, anticipate no future - Beck’s triad

Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness

53
Q

How can the risk of suicide following DSH be determined?

A 
Note left behind, written
Planned attempt of suicide
Attempts to avoid discovery
Afterwards no help sought
Violent method
Final acts - sorting out finances, writing a will
54
Q

What is investigated in a risk assessment?

A

Explore suicidal ideation

Explore suicide intent - was it planned, method, note left, any other preparation, intoxicated, alone
did they try to avoid discovery, did they seek help afterwards, how do they feel about being found

Exploring risk factors - anything makes you feel this way, previous attempts, insight into illness, any family history of attempt

Perform mental state examination

Explore protective factors - anything that would stop you, positive things in life, anyone to confide in, live with anyone, social support

Explore risk to others including children and risk from others
Ever thought about harming others, do you have a close contact with children
ever feel threatened or at risk from others

Formulate management plan

55
Q

What is the general management following suicide attempt?

A

Ensure safety, remove means for suicide, ensure safety of patient and others

Patients who have attempted and failed should be medically stabilised e.g. management of drug overdose or treatment of physical injury

Risk assessment

Admission to hospital or observation in safe place, MHA may be needed
Referral to secondary care

Psychiatric treatment

Involvement of crisis revolution and home treatment team

Outpatient and community treatment if chronic suicidal ideation but no history of previous suicide attempts, need a strong support network and easy access to outpatient

56
Q

What individual suicide prevention strategies are available?

A

Detect and treat psychiatric disorders
Urgent hospitalisation under MHA
Involvement of Crisis Resolution and home treatment team

57
Q

What population level suicide prevention strategies are available?

A 
Public education and discussion
Reducing access to means of suicide
Easy, rapid access to psychiatric care
Decreasing societal stressors
Reducing substance misuse

Mental Health (15 decks)

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