Week 104: Suicide Flashcards
Give some examples of ways to attempt self harm
- Self-immolation
- Overdose
- Hanging
- Carbon monoxide poisoning (decreasing)
- Poisoning (most common among women)
What is the most used drug in overdosing?
Paracetamol (50% of overdoses)
What are four methods of dealing with an overdose?
- Gastric lavage
Not really used
One tube sucks out, other clean fluid in - Forced emesis: ipecac (also charcoal)
- Activated charcoal
Ineffective after a certain time but useful Ineffective with alcohol and metals
Add sorbitol to shorten gut transit time
Has to administered in <1 hour - Urine alkalisation
What are the symptoms of an opioid overdose?
⇒ Strong painkillers: codeine, morphine, heroin
- Decreased level of consciousness
- Constricted pupils
- Bradycardia
- Bradypnoea
- Blue lips/nails (insufficient oxygen in blood)
- Sometimes: seizures, muscle spasms
What are the symptoms of a paracetamol overdose?
- Jaundice - skin and whites of eyes
- Loss of coordination
- Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) - sweating, trembling, irritability
What are the symptoms of an aspirin overdose?
⇒ Used as a painkiller but mainly for its blood thinning properties
- Sweating
- Tachypnoea
- Tinnitus (ringing in ears)
- Temporary hearing loss
What are the symptoms of a tricyclic antidepressant overdose?
⇒ Type of antidepressant
- Excitability
- Dry mouth
- Dilated pupils
- Irregular heartbeat
- Tachycardia
- Low blood pressure - lightheadedness, fainting
What are the symptoms of an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) overdose?
⇒ Type of antidepressant
- Feelings of agitation
- Tremors
- Nystagmus (uncontrolled movement of the eyes)
- Severe muscle tension
What are the symptoms of a beta-blocker overdose?
⇒ Used to treat heat/blood conditions: high blood pressure, angina, heart failure
- Low blood pressure - lightheadedness, fainting
- Bradycardia (<60bpm)
What are the symptoms of a calcium-channel blocker overdose?
⇒ Used in the treatment of high blood pressure and angina
- Feeling agitated
- Low blood pressure - lightheadedness, fainting
- Chest pain
- Bradycardia (<60bpm)
What are the symptoms of a benzodiazepine overdose?
⇒ A type of tranquiliser often used short-term to treat anxiety and insomnia
- Coordination and speech difficulties
- Nystagmus (uncontrolled movement of the eyes)
- Shallow breathing
What are the symptoms of a stimulant overdose?
⇒ Include: cocaine, amphetamine, crack/ecstasy
- Anxiety and paranoia
- Restlessness, agitation
- Hallucinations
- High temperature
- Chest pain- Tachypnoea
- Irregular heartbeat
- Tachycardia
What are the symptoms of a cannabis overdose?
- Paranoia
- Hallucinations
- Numbness in arms and legs
What is the antidote to an amitriptyline overdose?
Sodium bicarbonate
What is the antidote to a beta-blocker overdose?
Glucagon
What is the antidote to a benzodiazepine overdose?
Flumazenil
What is the antidote to a cyanide overdose?
Hydroxocobalamin/inhaled nitrates
What is the antidote to a digoxin overdose?
Digoxin antibodies
What is the antidote to a heparin overdose?
Protamine
What is the antidote to a hydrofluoric acid overdose?
Calcium
What is the antidote to an iron overdose?
Desferrioxamine
What is the antidote to a methanol overdose?
Ethanol
What is the antidote to an ethanol overdose?
Glycose
What is the antidote to herbicide poisoning?
Paraqat, also called Fuller’s earth
What is the antidote to a methaemoglobin overdose?
Methyline blue
What is the antidote to an organophosphate overdose?
Atropine
What is the antidote to an opiate overdose?
Naloxone
What is the antidote to a paracetamol overdose?
Acetylcysteine
What is the antidote to a warfarin overdose?
Vitamin K/Octiplex
How does carbon monoxide poisoning work?
Carbon monoxide has a 250x affinity for haemoglobin compared to oxygen meaning oxygen cannot be carried round the blood
What is anthropology?
The study of humans as a whole
What does the psychoanalytic theory of depression (Freud) say?
Dreams and unconscious thoughts
What does the cognitive model of depression (Beck) say?
Rigid thinkingPolarised thinking
What does the cognitive behavioural model of depression (Wensel and Beck) say?
Polarised thinking with depressionNegative personal views
What does the multidimensional theory of depression (Schneidmann and Lenage) say?
Unbearable psychological pain - immense depression
What does the diatheses stress hypothesis/stress vulnerability resilience model say?
Some people have a natural ability to deal with high stress whereas others are pushed over the edge with low stress - table of graduation
What does the self-regulatory theory of depression say?
Victim’s perspective and focus on pursuit of goals and how it affects behaviour
What does escape theory say?
Want to escape
What are the four types of suicide according to Durkheim?
- Egoistic
- Altruistic (better for others)
- Anomic (social isolation)
- Fatalistic (only choice, no other way)
What is procyclidine?
Used in the treatment of Parkinson’s and dystonia
