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Causes of Suicide
Causes of Suicide: Online Medical Books
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the causes of Suicide.
Depression:
Medical causes
(Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))
Organic disorders
Various organic disorders and chronic illnesses produce mild, moderate, or severe depression. Among these are metabolic and endocrine disorders,such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and diabetes; infectious diseases, such as influenza, hepatitis, and encephalitis; degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and multi-infarct dementia; and neoplastic disorderssuch as cancer.Psychiatric disorders
Affective disordersare typically characterized by abrupt mood swings from depression to elation (mania) or by prolonged episodes of either mood. In fact, severe depression may last for weeks. More moderate depression occurs in cyclothymic disordersand usually alternates with moderate mania. Moderate depression that's more or less constant over a 2-year period typically results from dysthymic disorders. Also, chronic anxiety disorders,such as panic and obsessive-compulsive disorder, may be accompanied by depression.Other causes
Alcohol abuse
Long-term alcohol use, intoxication, or withdrawal commonly produces depression.Drugs.
Various drugs cause depression as an adverse effect. Among the more common are barbiturates; chemotherapeutic drugs, such as asparaginase; anticonvulsants, such as diazepam; and antiarrhythmics, such as disopyramide. Other depression-inducing drugs include centrally acting antihypertensives, such as reserpine (common in high dosages), methyldopa, and clonidine; beta-adrenergic blockers, such as propranolol; levodopa; indomethacin; cycloserine; corticosteroids; and hormonal contraceptives.Postpartum period.
Although the cause hasn't been proved, depression occurs in about 1 in every 2,000 to 3,000 pregnancies and is characterized by various symptoms. Symptoms range from mild postpartum blues to an intense, suicidal, depressive psychosis.Violent behavior:
Medical causes
(Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))
Organic disorders
Disorders resulting from metabolic or neurologic dysfunction can cause violent behavior. Common causes include epilepsy, brain tumor, encephalitis, head injury, endocrine disorders, metabolic disorders (such as uremia and calcium imbalance), and severe physical trauma.
Psychiatric disorders
Violent behavior occurs as a protective mechanism in response to a perceived threat in psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. A similar response may occur in personality disorders, such as antisocial or borderline personality.
Other causes
Drugs and alcohol
Violent behavior is an adverse effect of some drugs, such as lidocaine and penicillin G. Alcohol abuse or withdrawal, hallucinogens, amphetamines, and barbiturate withdrawal may also cause violent behavior.
Fontanel depression:
Medical causes
(Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))
Dehydration
With mild dehydration (5% weight loss), the anterior fontanel appears slightly depressed. The infant has pale, dry skin and mucous membranes; decreased urine output; a normal or slightly elevated pulse rate; and, possibly, irritability
Moderate dehydration (10% weight loss) causes slightly more pronounced fontanel depression, along with gray skin with poor turgor, dry mucous membranes, decreased tears, and decreased urine output. The infant has normal or decreased blood pressure, an increased pulse rate and, possibly, lethargy.
Severe dehydration (15%or greater weight loss) may result in a markedly sunken fontanel, along with extremely poor skin turgor, parched mucous membranes, marked oliguria or anuria, lethargy, and signs of shock, such as a rapid, thready pulse; very low blood pressure; and obtundation.
Major depression:
Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
The multiple causes of depression aren’t completely understood. Current research suggests possible genetic, familial, biochemical, physical, psychological, and social causes. Psychological causes (the focus of many nursing interventions) may include feelings of helplessness and vulnerability, anger, hopelessness and pessimism, and low self-esteem. They may be related to abnormal character and behavior patterns and troubled personal relationships. In many cases, the history identifies a specific personal loss or severe stressor that probably interacts with the person’s predisposition to provoke major depression.
Depression may be secondary to a specific medical condition — for example, metabolic disturbances, such as hypoxia and hypercalcemia; endocrine disorders, such as diabetes and Cushing’s syndrome; neurologic diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases; cancer (especially of the pancreas); viral and bacterial infections, such as influenza and pneumonia; cardiovascular disorders, such as heart failure; pulmonary disorders, such as chronic obstructive lung disease; musculoskeletal disorders, such as degenerative arthritis; GI disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome; genitourinary problems, such as incontinence; collagen vascular diseases, such as lupus; and anemias.
Drugs prescribed for medical and psychiatric conditions as well as many commonly abused substances can also cause depression. Examples include antihypertensives, psychotropics, opioid and nonopioid analgesics, antiparkinsonian drugs, numerous cardiovascular medications, oral antidiabetics, antimicrobials, steroids, chemotherapeutic agents, cimetidine, and alcohol. Depression occurs in up to 18 million Americans, affecting all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. It affects both sexes, but is more common in women.
Depression:
Medical causes
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
Organic disorders
Various organic disorders and chronic illnesses produce mild, moderate, or severe depression. Among these are metabolic and endocrine disorders, such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and diabetes; infectious diseases, such as influenza, hepatitis, and encephalitis; degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and multi-infarct dementia; and neoplastic disorders such as cancer.
Psychiatric disorders
Affective disorders are typically characterized by abrupt mood swings from depression to elation (mania) or by prolonged episodes of either mood. In fact, severe depression may last for weeks. More moderate depression occurs in cyclothymic disorders and usually alternates with moderate mania. Moderate depression that’s more or less constant over a 2-year period typically results from dysthymic disorders. Also, chronic anxiety disorders, such as panic and obsessive-compulsive disorder, may be accompanied by depression.
Other causes
Alcohol abuse
Long-term alcohol use, intoxication, or withdrawal commonly produces depression.
Drugs
Various drugs cause depression as an adverse effect. Among the more common are barbiturates, chemotherapeutic drugs such as asparaginase, anticonvulsants such as diazepam, and antiarrhythmics such as disopyramide. Other depression-inducing drugs include centrally acting antihypertensives, such as reserpine (common with high doses), methyldopa, and clonidine; beta-adrenergic blockers such as propranolol; levodopa; indomethacin; cycloserine; corticosteroids; and hormonal contraceptives.
Postpartum period
Although its cause hasn’t been determined, postpartum depression occurs in about 1 in every 2,000 to 3,000 women who have given birth. Symptoms range from mild postpartum blues to an intense, suicidal, depressive psychosis.
Violent behavior:
Medical causes
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
Organic disorders
Disorders resulting from metabolic or neurologic dysfunction can cause violent behavior. These include epilepsy, brain tumor, encephalitis, endocrine disorders, and metabolic disorders (such as uremia and calcium imbalance). Severe physical trauma, such as a head injury, can also cause violent behavior.
Psychiatric disorders
Violent behavior occurs as a protective mechanism in response to a perceived threat in psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. A similar response may occur in personality disorders, such as antisocial or borderline personality.
Other causes
Drugs and alcohol
Violent behavior is an adverse effect of some drugs, such as lidocaine, penicillin G, hallucinogens, and amphetamines. Alcohol abuse or withdrawal and barbiturate withdrawal may also cause violent behavior.
Fontanel depression:
Medical causes
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
Dehydration
In mild dehydration (5% weight loss), the anterior fontanel appears slightly depressed. Other findings include pale, dry skin and mucous membranes; decreased urine output; a normal or slightly elevated pulse rate; and possibly irritability.
Moderate dehydration (10% weight loss) causes slightly more pronounced fontanel depression along with gray skin with poor turgor, dry mucous membranes, decreased tears, and decreased urine output. The infant has normal or decreased blood pressure and an increased pulse rate; he may also be lethargic.
Severe dehydration (15% or greater weight loss) may result in a markedly sunken fontanel along with extremely poor skin turgor, parched mucous membranes, marked oliguria or anuria, lethargy, and signs of shock, such as rapid, thready pulse, very low blood pressure, and obtundation.
Depression:
Differential Overview
(Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis)
❑ Dysthymia
❑ Major depression
❑ Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
❑ Seasonal affective disorder
❑ Bipolar disorder
❑ Drug-induced
❑ Grief
❑ Thyroid disease
❑ Dementia
❑ Stroke
❑ Paraneoplastic
Depression, major:
Causes
(Handbook of Diseases)
The multiple causes of depression aren’t completely understood. Current research suggests possible genetic, familial, biochemical, physical, psychological, and social causes.
Psychological factors
Such causes may include feelings of helplessness and vulnerability, anger, hopelessness and pessimism, and low self-esteem; they may be related to abnormal character and behavior patterns and troubled personal relationships.
In many patients, the history identifies a specific personal loss or severe stressor that probably interacts with the person’s predisposition to provoke major depression.
Medical conditions
Depression may be secondary to a specific medical condition — for example, metabolic disturbances, such as hypoxia and hypercalcemia; endocrine disorders, such as diabetes and Cushing’s disease; neurologic diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease; and cancer, especially of the pancreas.
Other medical conditions that may underlie depression include viral and bacterial infections, such as influenza and pneumonia; cardiovascular disorders such as heart failure; pulmonary disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; musculoskeletal disorders such as degenerative arthritis; GI disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome; genitourinary problems such as incontinence; collagen vascular diseases such as lupus; and anemias.
Drugs
Drugs prescribed for medical and psychiatric conditions as well as many commonly abused substances, can also cause depression. Examples include antihypertensives, psychotropics, narcotic and nonnarcotic analgesics, antiparkinsonian drugs, numerous cardiovascular medications, oral antidiabetics, antimicrobials, steroids, chemotherapeutic agents, cimetidine, and alcohol.
Violent behavior:
Medical causes
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)
Organic disorders.Disorders resulting from metabolic or neurologic dysfunction can cause violent behavior. Common causes include epilepsy, brain tumor, encephalitis, head injury, endocrine disorders, metabolic disorders (such as uremia and calcium imbalance), and severe physical trauma.
Psychiatric disorders.Violent behavior occurs as a protective mechanism in response to a perceived threat in psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. A similar response may occur in personality disorders, such as antisocial or borderline personality.
Other causes
Drugs and alcohol.Violent behavior is an adverse effect of some drugs, such as lidocaine and penicillin G. Alcohol abuse or withdrawal, hallucinogens, amphetamines, and barbiturate withdrawal may also cause violent behavior.
Fontanel depression:
Medical causes
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)
Dehydration.With mild dehydration (5% weight loss), the anterior fontanel appears slightly depressed. The infant has pale, dry skin and mucous membranes; decreased urine output; a normal or slightly elevated pulse rate; and, possibly, irritability.
Moderate dehydration (10% weight loss) causes slightly more pronounced fontanel depression, along with gray skin with poor turgor, dry mucous membranes, decreased tears, and decreased urine output. The infant has normal or decreased blood pressure, an increased pulse rate and, possibly, lethargy.
Severe dehydration (15% or greater weight loss) may result in a markedly sunken fontanel, along with extremely poor skin turgor, parched mucous membranes, marked oliguria or anuria, lethargy, and signs of shock, such as a rapid, thready pulse; very low blood pressure; and obtundation.
Suicide as a complication of other conditions:
Other conditions that might have Suicide as a complication may, potentially, be an underlying cause of Suicide. Our database lists the following as having Suicide as a complication of that condition:
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Bipolar disorder
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Bulimia nervosa
- Combat stress reaction
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Major affective disorder 2
- Myoclonus progressive epilepsy of Unverricht and Lundborg
- Schizophrenia
- Self Harm
- Substance Withdrawal Syndrome
Suicide as a symptom:
Conditions listing Suicide as a symptom may also be potential underlying causes of Suicide. Our database lists the following as having Suicide as a symptom of that condition:
What causes Suicide?
Article excerpts about the
causes of Suicide:
Suicide by firearms was the most common method for both men and women,
accounting for 58% of all suicides
(Source: excerpt from Suicide Facts: NIMH)
Medical news summaries relating to Suicide:
The following medical news items are relevant to causes of Suicide:
- Acne drug allegedly linked to another suicide
- Acne medication may have contributed to suicide
- Antidepressant ordered to include a black label due to suicide risk
- Antidepressant prescriptions should not be the first line of defense in treating depression
- Antidepressant use in pregnant mothers
- Depression linked to childhood bullying
- Doubts over the real cause of depression
- Familial bipolar disorder traits dictate disease presentation
- FDA finally acknowledges suicide risk associated with antidepressant use in children
- Juvenile bipolar still misunderstood
- Many possible triggers for depression
- Medication error lead to exacerbation of schizophrenia
- Omega-3 fatty acids may improve mental health as well as prevent heart disease
- Recently discovered gene defect may be the cause of some types of depression
- Research finds inappropriate treatment of adolescent depression
- Self harm undiagnosed link to psychological disorder
- Suicide in the elderly
- Suicide risk greater in men of less intelligence
- Teen sex issues
- Teens choking for a rush
Cause statistics for Suicide:
The following are statistics from various sources about the causes of Suicide:
- 55% of cases were committed with a firearm America (National Centre for Injury Prevention and Control)
- Suicide cause statistics for men in Canada:
- 3,019 male deaths using guns in Canada 1990-92 (Statistics Canada, Health Canada)
- 2,612 male deaths by hanging in Canada 1990-92 (Statistics Canada, Health Canada)
- 811 male deaths by poisoning in Canada 1990-92 (Statistics Canada, Health Canada)
- 991 male deaths using gases or vapours in Canada 1990-92 (Statistics Canada, Health Canada)
- 372 male deaths by jumping in Canada 1990-92 (Statistics Canada, Health Canada)
- 266 male deaths by drowning in Canada 1990-92 (Statistics Canada, Health Canada)
- 159 male deaths by cutting or piercing in Canada 1990-92 (Statistics Canada, Health Canada)
- Suicide cause statistics for women in Canada:
- 195 female deaths using guns in Canada 1990-92 (Statistics Canada, Health Canada)
- 492 female deaths by hanging in Canada 1990-92 (Statistics Canada, Health Canada)
- 827 female deaths by poisoning in Canada 1990-92 (Statistics Canada, Health Canada)
- 253 female deaths using gases or vapours in Canada 1990-92 (Statistics Canada, Health Canada)
- 150 female deaths by jumping in Canada 1990-92 (Statistics Canada, Health Canada)
- 156 female deaths by drowning in Canada 1990-92 (Statistics Canada, Health Canada)
- 37 female deaths by cutting or piercing in Canada 1990-92 (Statistics Canada, Health Canada)
Related information on causes of Suicide:
As with all medical conditions, there may be many causal factors. Further relevant information on causes of Suicide may be found in:
» Next page: Risk Factors for Suicide
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- Diagnosis of Suicide
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