SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIOR
VARCAROLIS: ESSENTIALS OF PSYCHIATRIC
MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
Which change in brain biochemical function is most associated with suicidal behavior?
A. Dopamine excess
B.Serotonin deficiency
C.Acetylcholine excess
D.Gamma-aminobutyric acid deficiency - RIGHT ANSWER -B.Serotonin deficiency
After failing two tests, a college student cried for hours and then tried to telephone a parent
but got no answer. The student then gave several expensive sweaters to a roommate. Which
behavior provides the strongest clue of an impending suicide attempt?
A.Calling parents
B.Excessive crying
c. Giving away sweaters.
d. Staying alone in a dorm room - RIGHT ANSWER -c. Giving away sweaters.
A nurse uses the modified SAD PERSONS scale to interview a patient. This tool provides data
relevant to assessing what?
A.Current stress level
B.Mood disturbance
C.Suicide potential
D.Level of anxiety - RIGHT ANSWER -C. Suicide potential
When a person intentionally overdoses on antidepressant drugs, which nursing diagnosis has
the highest priority?
, A.Powerlessness
B.Social isolation
C.Risk for suicide
D.Ineffective management of the therapeutic regimen - RIGHT ANSWER -C.Risk for suicide
A person attempts suicide by overdose, is treated in the emergency department, and then
hospitalized. What is the best initial patient outcome?
A. Will verbalize a will to live by the end of the second hospital day.
B. Can describe two new coping mechanisms by the end of the third hospital day.
C. Accurately delineate personal strengths by the end of first week of hospitalization.
D. Exercise suicide self-restraint by refraining from gestures or attempts to harm self for 24 hours.
- RIGHT ANSWER -D. Exercise suicide self-restraint by refraining from gestures or attempts to
harm self for 24 hours.
A college student who attempted suicide by overdose is hospitalized. When the parents are
contacted, they respond, "There must be a mistake. This could not have happened. We've
given our child everything." What emotional response does the parents' reaction reflect?
a. Denial
b. Anger
c. Anxiety
d. Projection - RIGHT ANSWER -a. Denial
An adolescent tells the school nurse, "My friend threatened to take an overdose of pills." The
nurse talks to the friend who verbalized the suicide threat. What is the most critical question for
the nurse to ask?
A."What makes you want to kill yourself?"
B."Do you have access to medications?"
VARCAROLIS: ESSENTIALS OF PSYCHIATRIC
MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
Which change in brain biochemical function is most associated with suicidal behavior?
A. Dopamine excess
B.Serotonin deficiency
C.Acetylcholine excess
D.Gamma-aminobutyric acid deficiency - RIGHT ANSWER -B.Serotonin deficiency
After failing two tests, a college student cried for hours and then tried to telephone a parent
but got no answer. The student then gave several expensive sweaters to a roommate. Which
behavior provides the strongest clue of an impending suicide attempt?
A.Calling parents
B.Excessive crying
c. Giving away sweaters.
d. Staying alone in a dorm room - RIGHT ANSWER -c. Giving away sweaters.
A nurse uses the modified SAD PERSONS scale to interview a patient. This tool provides data
relevant to assessing what?
A.Current stress level
B.Mood disturbance
C.Suicide potential
D.Level of anxiety - RIGHT ANSWER -C. Suicide potential
When a person intentionally overdoses on antidepressant drugs, which nursing diagnosis has
the highest priority?
, A.Powerlessness
B.Social isolation
C.Risk for suicide
D.Ineffective management of the therapeutic regimen - RIGHT ANSWER -C.Risk for suicide
A person attempts suicide by overdose, is treated in the emergency department, and then
hospitalized. What is the best initial patient outcome?
A. Will verbalize a will to live by the end of the second hospital day.
B. Can describe two new coping mechanisms by the end of the third hospital day.
C. Accurately delineate personal strengths by the end of first week of hospitalization.
D. Exercise suicide self-restraint by refraining from gestures or attempts to harm self for 24 hours.
- RIGHT ANSWER -D. Exercise suicide self-restraint by refraining from gestures or attempts to
harm self for 24 hours.
A college student who attempted suicide by overdose is hospitalized. When the parents are
contacted, they respond, "There must be a mistake. This could not have happened. We've
given our child everything." What emotional response does the parents' reaction reflect?
a. Denial
b. Anger
c. Anxiety
d. Projection - RIGHT ANSWER -a. Denial
An adolescent tells the school nurse, "My friend threatened to take an overdose of pills." The
nurse talks to the friend who verbalized the suicide threat. What is the most critical question for
the nurse to ask?
A."What makes you want to kill yourself?"
B."Do you have access to medications?"
