Behavioral Sciences

Question:

A 49 year old male with a previous history of paranoid schizophrenia is admitted to the psychiatric ward because of an increase in auditory hallucinations. He has heard voices telling him to set fire to himself. He has been unemployed for five years and has been drinking increased amounts of alcohol since a bitter divorce earlier this year. He has attempted suicide on multiple occasions. His past medical history is significant for poorly controlled diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Which is the best predictor of this patient’s likelihood to commit suicide in the future?

Correct Answer: D.  Prior suicide attempt

The strongest indicator that a future suicide attempt is a likely is a history of previous suicide attempts. Male gender is a risk factor for suicide, as well as alcohol, substance abuse, unemployment, recent divorce, and age over 45 years. However, these are less significant than a history of previous suicide attempts.