Suicide Risk Assessment: Exam 2 - Questions with Correct
Answers
100 questions
1. Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) refers to:
A. A failed suicide attempt
B. Accidental injury
C. Self-neglect from dementia
D. Deliberate self-inflicted damage to body tissue without intent to die, often to manage emotions
Correct Answer: D. Deliberate self-inflicted damage to body tissue without intent to die, often
to manage emotions
Rationale: NSSI is often used to relieve overwhelming emotions or numbness, and although intent differs
from a suicide attempt, it is a strong risk factor for future suicidal behavior. It should be assessed carefully
rather than dismissed as attention-seeking. Accidental injury and dementia-related neglect lack deliberate
intent.
2. Suicide among health care professionals is a recognized concern, with elevated rates
reported among:
A. No health professions
B. Physicians and nurses
C. Only medical students
D. Only dentists
Correct Answer: B. Physicians and nurses
Rationale: Studies show higher suicide rates among nurses and physicians than in the general
population, linked to stress, burnout, access to medications and barriers to help-seeking. Organizations
are implementing confidential support programs. Risk is not limited to one profession.
,3. DSM-5-TR addresses suicidal behavior by:
A. Including codes to document current and past suicidal behavior and nonsuicidal self-injury
B. Classifying suicide as a personality disorder
C. Excluding suicide entirely
D. Requiring a psychotic disorder diagnosis
Correct Answer: A. Including codes to document current and past suicidal behavior and
nonsuicidal self-injury
Rationale: DSM-5-TR added codes so clinicians can record suicidal behavior and NSSI independently of
any diagnosis, which improves tracking and recognition of risk. Suicidal behavior can occur with many or
no diagnoses. It is not classified as a personality disorder.
4. The interpersonal theory of suicide (Joiner) proposes that the desire for suicide arises from:
A. Thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness
B. Low intelligence
C. Excess social support
D. Physical fitness
Correct Answer: A. Thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness
Rationale: According to this theory, feeling disconnected and believing one is a burden to others create
the desire for death, while capability for suicide develops through habituation to pain and fear. Asking
about burdensomeness and connection can guide assessment. The other options are not part of the
theory.
5. Which group of veterans has a higher suicide rate than nonveteran adults?
A. Veterans overall, with rates roughly 1.5 times those of nonveteran adults after adjusting for age
and sex
B. No veterans
C. Only veterans who never served in combat
D. Only female civilians
Correct Answer: A. Veterans overall, with rates roughly 1.5 times those of nonveteran adults
after adjusting for age and sex
Rationale: VA data show an elevated adjusted rate among veterans, with firearms involved in most
veteran suicides. Female veterans also have markedly higher rates than nonveteran women. The VA
offers the Veterans Crisis Line (988, press 1).
,6. An interrupted suicide attempt occurs when:
A. The person is stopped by someone else before the potentially self-injurious act begins or is
completed
B. The person stops on their own before acting
C. The person completes the act without injury
D. The person only thinks about suicide
Correct Answer: A. The person is stopped by someone else before the potentially
self-injurious act begins or is completed
Rationale: In the Columbia classification, an interrupted attempt is stopped by an outside circumstance,
while an aborted attempt is stopped by the person themselves. Both are clinically important and predict
future behavior. Thoughts alone are ideation.
7. According to CDC data, about how many people died by suicide in the United States in 2023?
A. More than 49,000
B. About 5,000
C. About 150,000
D. About 1 million
Correct Answer: A. More than 49,000
Rationale: CDC reports over 49,000 suicide deaths in 2023, about one every 11 minutes, near the
highest number recorded. Five thousand greatly underestimates the toll, while 150,000 and 1 million are
far too high. Because many more people attempt or consider suicide, every death represents a much
larger group at risk.
8. Hopelessness is an important construct in suicide risk because it:
A. Is unrelated to suicide
B. Only occurs in schizophrenia
C. Predicts suicidal behavior more strongly than depression severity alone in many studies
D. Is always temporary and harmless
Correct Answer: C. Predicts suicidal behavior more strongly than depression severity alone
in many studies
Rationale: Beck's research showed that hopelessness about the future is a strong predictor of eventual
suicide, so it should be explored directly. It occurs across many conditions. Reducing hopelessness
through problem solving and connection is a treatment target.
, 9. Homelessness is associated with increased suicide risk because of:
A. Increased access to health care
B. Strong social networks
C. High rates of mental illness, substance use, trauma, and lack of stable support
D. Reduced stress
Correct Answer: C. High rates of mental illness, substance use, trauma, and lack of stable
support
Rationale: People experiencing homelessness face multiple overlapping risks and barriers to care, so
assessment and linkage to housing and services are important. They typically have less, not more,
access to care.
10. Comorbidity, such as depression combined with alcohol use disorder, affects suicide risk
by:
A. Canceling out risk
B. Reducing risk
C. Having no effect
D. Substantially increasing risk compared with either condition alone
Correct Answer: D. Substantially increasing risk compared with either condition alone
Rationale: Co-occurring conditions compound risk through impaired judgment, worse outcomes and
more stressors, so integrated treatment is recommended. Assessing all conditions, not just the primary
diagnosis, is important.
11. The FDA requires a class warning about suicidal thoughts and behavior for which
medication group?
A. Antihypertensive diuretics
B. Topical antibiotics
C. Antiepileptic drugs
D. Vitamin supplements
Correct Answer: C. Antiepileptic drugs
Rationale: A pooled FDA analysis found a small increase in suicidal thoughts and behavior with
antiepileptic drugs, so patients should be monitored for mood changes, especially early in treatment.
Antidepressants carry a separate boxed warning for young people. The other groups do not carry this
warning.
Answers
100 questions
1. Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) refers to:
A. A failed suicide attempt
B. Accidental injury
C. Self-neglect from dementia
D. Deliberate self-inflicted damage to body tissue without intent to die, often to manage emotions
Correct Answer: D. Deliberate self-inflicted damage to body tissue without intent to die, often
to manage emotions
Rationale: NSSI is often used to relieve overwhelming emotions or numbness, and although intent differs
from a suicide attempt, it is a strong risk factor for future suicidal behavior. It should be assessed carefully
rather than dismissed as attention-seeking. Accidental injury and dementia-related neglect lack deliberate
intent.
2. Suicide among health care professionals is a recognized concern, with elevated rates
reported among:
A. No health professions
B. Physicians and nurses
C. Only medical students
D. Only dentists
Correct Answer: B. Physicians and nurses
Rationale: Studies show higher suicide rates among nurses and physicians than in the general
population, linked to stress, burnout, access to medications and barriers to help-seeking. Organizations
are implementing confidential support programs. Risk is not limited to one profession.
,3. DSM-5-TR addresses suicidal behavior by:
A. Including codes to document current and past suicidal behavior and nonsuicidal self-injury
B. Classifying suicide as a personality disorder
C. Excluding suicide entirely
D. Requiring a psychotic disorder diagnosis
Correct Answer: A. Including codes to document current and past suicidal behavior and
nonsuicidal self-injury
Rationale: DSM-5-TR added codes so clinicians can record suicidal behavior and NSSI independently of
any diagnosis, which improves tracking and recognition of risk. Suicidal behavior can occur with many or
no diagnoses. It is not classified as a personality disorder.
4. The interpersonal theory of suicide (Joiner) proposes that the desire for suicide arises from:
A. Thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness
B. Low intelligence
C. Excess social support
D. Physical fitness
Correct Answer: A. Thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness
Rationale: According to this theory, feeling disconnected and believing one is a burden to others create
the desire for death, while capability for suicide develops through habituation to pain and fear. Asking
about burdensomeness and connection can guide assessment. The other options are not part of the
theory.
5. Which group of veterans has a higher suicide rate than nonveteran adults?
A. Veterans overall, with rates roughly 1.5 times those of nonveteran adults after adjusting for age
and sex
B. No veterans
C. Only veterans who never served in combat
D. Only female civilians
Correct Answer: A. Veterans overall, with rates roughly 1.5 times those of nonveteran adults
after adjusting for age and sex
Rationale: VA data show an elevated adjusted rate among veterans, with firearms involved in most
veteran suicides. Female veterans also have markedly higher rates than nonveteran women. The VA
offers the Veterans Crisis Line (988, press 1).
,6. An interrupted suicide attempt occurs when:
A. The person is stopped by someone else before the potentially self-injurious act begins or is
completed
B. The person stops on their own before acting
C. The person completes the act without injury
D. The person only thinks about suicide
Correct Answer: A. The person is stopped by someone else before the potentially
self-injurious act begins or is completed
Rationale: In the Columbia classification, an interrupted attempt is stopped by an outside circumstance,
while an aborted attempt is stopped by the person themselves. Both are clinically important and predict
future behavior. Thoughts alone are ideation.
7. According to CDC data, about how many people died by suicide in the United States in 2023?
A. More than 49,000
B. About 5,000
C. About 150,000
D. About 1 million
Correct Answer: A. More than 49,000
Rationale: CDC reports over 49,000 suicide deaths in 2023, about one every 11 minutes, near the
highest number recorded. Five thousand greatly underestimates the toll, while 150,000 and 1 million are
far too high. Because many more people attempt or consider suicide, every death represents a much
larger group at risk.
8. Hopelessness is an important construct in suicide risk because it:
A. Is unrelated to suicide
B. Only occurs in schizophrenia
C. Predicts suicidal behavior more strongly than depression severity alone in many studies
D. Is always temporary and harmless
Correct Answer: C. Predicts suicidal behavior more strongly than depression severity alone
in many studies
Rationale: Beck's research showed that hopelessness about the future is a strong predictor of eventual
suicide, so it should be explored directly. It occurs across many conditions. Reducing hopelessness
through problem solving and connection is a treatment target.
, 9. Homelessness is associated with increased suicide risk because of:
A. Increased access to health care
B. Strong social networks
C. High rates of mental illness, substance use, trauma, and lack of stable support
D. Reduced stress
Correct Answer: C. High rates of mental illness, substance use, trauma, and lack of stable
support
Rationale: People experiencing homelessness face multiple overlapping risks and barriers to care, so
assessment and linkage to housing and services are important. They typically have less, not more,
access to care.
10. Comorbidity, such as depression combined with alcohol use disorder, affects suicide risk
by:
A. Canceling out risk
B. Reducing risk
C. Having no effect
D. Substantially increasing risk compared with either condition alone
Correct Answer: D. Substantially increasing risk compared with either condition alone
Rationale: Co-occurring conditions compound risk through impaired judgment, worse outcomes and
more stressors, so integrated treatment is recommended. Assessing all conditions, not just the primary
diagnosis, is important.
11. The FDA requires a class warning about suicidal thoughts and behavior for which
medication group?
A. Antihypertensive diuretics
B. Topical antibiotics
C. Antiepileptic drugs
D. Vitamin supplements
Correct Answer: C. Antiepileptic drugs
Rationale: A pooled FDA analysis found a small increase in suicidal thoughts and behavior with
antiepileptic drugs, so patients should be monitored for mood changes, especially early in treatment.
Antidepressants carry a separate boxed warning for young people. The other groups do not carry this
warning.
