Identify the risk for suicide—understand risk factors and perform accurate patient assessment.
Avert the completion of a suicide—remove potential hazards and closely monitor the patient.
Acute actions for patients who have attempted suicide (Colucciello 2009; Kazim 2012):
Assess patients who have attempted suicide for life-threatening injuries, and initiate immediate interventions. Interventions for life-threatening injuries include:
Maintain airway, breathing, and circulation.
Provide supplemental oxygen if indicated.
Establish IV access for administration of fluids, medications, or blood products.
Begin cardiac and pulse oximetry monitoring.
Treat toxic ingestion.
Treat traumatic injuries.
Safety of both the patient and the staff is high priority when a patient expresses suicidal ideation. All states have provisions that allow police to place individuals into custody if there is risk that they are a danger to themselves or others.
Protective interventions for a patient with suicidal ideation (Colucciello 2009; Kazim 2012):
Approach the patient with a compassionate, yet firm demeanor. Establishing a relationship of concern and support contributes to trust.
Search the patient; remove and secure any dangerous objects or substances.
Place the patient in a safe environment.
Clear the patient's room of all potentially harmful objects, including instruments, medications, glass, and cords of any type.
Have the patient remove all clothing (often with the escort of a security guard) and put on a paper scrub outfit.
Keep lights on in the patient room at all times.
Provide the patient with a plastic spoon and fork for eating, but do not give a knife of any type.
Remove sheets and pillows, which can be used as instruments of suffocation, if warranted. Give the patient a bath blanket.
Maintain continuous observation until a psychiatric evaluation is complete.
Restrain the patient if necessary to maintain the safety of the patient and the staff.
Orient the patient to reality.
Refer the patient for psychiatric consultation.
Medications
Medications are usually given to suicidal patients to treat underlying psychological disorders. Usually clinicians will choose medications with the fewest adverse effects. The prescribed medications should have a low risk for toxicity to reduce the risk of overdose. Medications typically prescribed for suicidal patients have shown a reduction in the incidences of the disorder for which they are prescribed (for example, depression), but none has proven to directly reduce the risk of suicide. The main classes of medications prescribed include (Gibbons 2011):
Antipsychotics: These can be used to treat acute agitation and psychosis. If the patient states that voices are telling him or her to self-harm, this class of medication is warranted.
Benzodiazepines: These can be helpful in reducing anxiety and dysphoria. They should not be prescribed if the means of the suicide attempt was a benzodiazepine overdose. They should also not be prescribed until the patient's respiratory system, vital signs, and cognitive state are stable.
Lithium may be prescribed for suicidal patients who suffer from an underlying bipolar disorder.
Mood stabilizers and antidepressants: These can be initiated in the acute inpatient setting, but they often do not fully take affect for a few weeks. Providers and caregivers need to be aware that there can also be a risk of increased suicidal ideation or action for some individuals when taking these medications.
Psychosocial Treatments
Nonpharmacologic treatments may also be helpful in treating suicidal patients (Pandya 2012):
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, which has been directly correlated with a reduction in suicidal thoughts and behavior
Family support and communication
Lifestyle modifications, including exercise and a healthy diet and socialization
Electroconvulsive therapy, which may be considered for severely depressed patients who are suicidal
Identify the risk for suicide—understand risk factors and perform accurate patient assessment.Avert the completion of a suicide—remove potential hazards and closely monitor the patient.Acute actions for patients who have attempted suicide (Colucciello 2009; Kazim 2012):Assess patients who have attempted suicide for life-threatening injuries, and initiate immediate interventions. Interventions for life-threatening injuries include:Maintain airway, breathing, and circulation.Provide supplemental oxygen if indicated.Establish IV access for administration of fluids, medications, or blood products.Begin cardiac and pulse oximetry monitoring.Treat toxic ingestion.Treat traumatic injuries.Safety of both the patient and the staff is high priority when a patient expresses suicidal ideation. All states have provisions that allow police to place individuals into custody if there is risk that they are a danger to themselves or others.Protective interventions for a patient with suicidal ideation (Colucciello 2009; Kazim 2012):Approach the patient with a compassionate, yet firm demeanor. Establishing a relationship of concern and support contributes to trust.Search the patient; remove and secure any dangerous objects or substances.Place the patient in a safe environment.Clear the patient's room of all potentially harmful objects, including instruments, medications, glass, and cords of any type.Have the patient remove all clothing (often with the escort of a security guard) and put on a paper scrub outfit.Keep lights on in the patient room at all times.Provide the patient with a plastic spoon and fork for eating, but do not give a knife of any type.Remove sheets and pillows, which can be used as instruments of suffocation, if warranted. Give the patient a bath blanket.Maintain continuous observation until a psychiatric evaluation is complete.Restrain the patient if necessary to maintain the safety of the patient and the staff.Orient the patient to reality.Refer the patient for psychiatric consultation.MedicationsMedications are usually given to suicidal patients to treat underlying psychological disorders. Usually clinicians will choose medications with the fewest adverse effects. The prescribed medications should have a low risk for toxicity to reduce the risk of overdose. Medications typically prescribed for suicidal patients have shown a reduction in the incidences of the disorder for which they are prescribed (for example, depression), but none has proven to directly reduce the risk of suicide. The main classes of medications prescribed include (Gibbons 2011):Antipsychotics: These can be used to treat acute agitation and psychosis. If the patient states that voices are telling him or her to self-harm, this class of medication is warranted.Benzodiazepines: These can be helpful in reducing anxiety and dysphoria. They should not be prescribed if the means of the suicide attempt was a benzodiazepine overdose. They should also not be prescribed until the patient's respiratory system, vital signs, and cognitive state are stable.Lithium may be prescribed for suicidal patients who suffer from an underlying bipolar disorder.Mood stabilizers and antidepressants: These can be initiated in the acute inpatient setting, but they often do not fully take affect for a few weeks. Providers and caregivers need to be aware that there can also be a risk of increased suicidal ideation or action for some individuals when taking these medications.Psychosocial TreatmentsNonpharmacologic treatments may also be helpful in treating suicidal patients (Pandya 2012):Cognitive-behavioral therapy, which has been directly correlated with a reduction in suicidal thoughts and behaviorFamily support and communicationLifestyle modifications, including exercise and a healthy diet and socializationElectroconvulsive therapy, which may be considered for severely depressed patients who are suicidal
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