Suicide Treatment

Question 1

What are the 3 major components of suicide treatment?

Answer 1

1. Screen for and treat underlying psychiatric disorders aggressively
2. Psychotherapy
3. Safety Plan

Question 2

Suicide Treamtent Components:

How to tx unipolar major depression or bipolar disorder

Answer 2

Maintenance tx w/ Lithium

• can prevent suicide (↓ prevent recurrence of mood episodes & reduce aggression or impulsivity)

Question 3

Suicide Treatment Components:

Treating unipolar major depression

Answer 3

• Maintenance tx w/ Lithium
• Doubling SSRI dosage: associated with 25% ↓ in suicides (data is less compelling than evidence supporting lithium)
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
  
  • associated w/ rapid response that may be lifesaving

Question 4

Suicide Treament Components:

How to treat psychotic disorders

Answer 4

Olanzapine (Zyprexa)

Question 5

What psychotherapy is a treatment for Suicide?

Answer 5

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy- may prevent subsequent attempts
2. Problem solving therapy

Question 7

Adult suicide safety plan- graph

(He did not seem to stress this in class)

Answer 7

1. Know warning signs and precipitants
2. Secure or remove lethal agents
3. Individual coping
4. Interpersonal coping
5. Professionals who can help

Question 8

T/F: Providers can be held liable for professional negligence if they fail to identify suicide risk

Answer 8

True