Suicide

• What are unsuccessful suicide attempts called

  Parasuicides
• Is suicide classified as a mental disorder in the DSM?

  No
• Are all suicides due to depression?


  No, while often linked to depression, about half of all suicides result from other mental disorders or no clear mental disorder at all
• Strategies to study suicide

  Retrospective analysis- psychological autopsy

  Studying people who survive their attempt
• Suicide rates of men and women

  Women have a higher attempt rate yet lower completion rate
• Suicide data based on race

  Suicide rate of white americans is twice as high as that of African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans

  Exception is Native Americans
• Link between Suicide and Drugs/Alcohol

  As many as 70% of attempted suicides drink alcohol just before

  Autopsies reveal that about 25% are intoxicated
• Does the likelihood of committing suicide increase or decrease with age?

  Increase
• Child boy to girl suicide ratio

  Boys:Girls 5:1
• At what age does suicide become more common?

  14
• Suicide success rate in teens

  Low 200:1
• Most common age group to commit suicide in Western society

  Elderly
• Therapy Goals after suicide attempt

  • Keep patient alive
  • Help achieve a nonsuicidal state of mind
  • Help develop better ways of handling stress
• Cognitive and CBT may be helpful in treating post-suicide attemot
• Ultimate form of prevention


  EDUCATION