Suicidality usually results from a physician’s interview in which the patient describes his or her mental situation or reports a suicide attempt. Illnesses of the patient that are associated with an increased risk of suicidality should be reason for the physician to watch for signs of suicidality. Any suicide announcement should be taken seriously! Ask … Suicidal Tendencies (Suicidality): Diagnosis
To prevent suicidality (suicide risk; suicide prevention), attention must be paid to reducing individual risk factors. Behavioral risk factors Use of stimulants Alcohol abuse (50% of all cases) Drug use Cannabis* (hashish and marijuana) Parental use → increased risk of child suicide attempt. Use by child/adolescent before age 18 increases risk of later depression and … Suicidal Tendencies (Suicidality): Prevention
The following symptoms and complaints may indicate suicidality (suicide risk): Symptoms of depression; in particular. Loss of self-esteem Hopelessness “no light at the end of the tunnel” (perplexity). “having nothing left to live for”. “no longer makes sense” “just can’t (won’t) do it anymore” Symptoms of bipolar disorder (here esp. ‘mixed states’ associated with a … Suicidal Tendencies (Suicidality): Symptoms, Complaints, Signs
After a suicide attempt or in the case of active suicide planning, admission to a psychiatric ward of a hospital takes place. Somatic treatment, psychosocial and psychiatric diagnosis, and always crisis intervention begin. The aim is to clarify the causes of the suicidal crisis as far as possible. In the process, the patient should achieve … Suicidal Tendencies (Suicidality): Therapy
Pathogenesis (development of disease) Suicidality describes a mental state in which thoughts, fantasies, impulses, and actions are directed toward purposefully bringing about one’s own death. Suicidality is the termination of one’s own life brought about by a person willfully and in awareness of the irreversibility of death. A suicide plan exists when a specific method … Suicidal Tendencies (Suicidality): Causes
