Citation

Raja M. Clin. Neuropsychiatry 2009; 6(5): 208-215.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Giovanni Fioriti Editore)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death. In most cases, suicide is the consequence of a psychiatric disorder. Assessment of suicide risk is a challenging task which includes a psychopathological evaluation, consideration of socio-demographic and clinical variables, history of previous suicide attempts, and analysis of the psychological context. A high index of suspicion helps to avoid possible pitfalls in the assessment of the suicide risk. Individuals with impending risk of suicide need immediate and intensive psychiatric management. In most cases, admission is advisable. Excitative symptoms, including anxiety, restlessness, agitation, hyperactivity, insomnia, impulsiveness, aggressiveness, rage are the targets of the acute treatment. The psychopharmacological armamentarium is plentiful. Lithium and clozapine are drugs with strong anti-suicidal effectiveness. © 2009 Giovanni Fioriti Editore s.r.l.

Language: en

Keywords

Prevention; human; Suicide; Treatment; insomnia; sex difference; schizophrenia; psychosis; suicide attempt; lithium; suicidal behavior; risk assessment; clozapine; mood disorder; ethnicity; unemployment; risk factor; review; aggressiveness; vomiting; mental disease; marriage; hospital admission; sedation; tachycardia; quetiapine; impulsiveness; treatment indication; anxiety disorder; electroconvulsive therapy; orthostatic hypotension; confusion; drug blood level; family history; carbamazepine; drug efficacy; extrapyramidal symptom; olanzapine; risperidone; diarrhea; nausea; tremor; drug withdrawal; restlessness; drug megadose; psychiatric treatment; valproic acid; side effect; amisulpride; ziprasidone; agitation; risk reduction; low drug dose; drug contraindication; oxcarbazepine; psychological rating scale; motor dysfunction; aripiprazole; hyperactivity; Emergency; drug dose increase; bedtime dosage; clonic contraction