RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2018
Mental Health Nursing
Easy
Increased suicidal tendency is associated with?
Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2018
Explanation
- Low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin are one of the most consistent neurobiological findings associated with an increased risk for suicidal behavior.
- Serotonin plays a key role in regulating mood, impulse control, and aggression; deficits can lead to depression and impulsivity.
- Studies consistently show that individuals who have attempted suicide have lower concentrations of serotonin's main metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), in their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: Low dopamine levels are primarily associated with conditions like Parkinson's disease, characterized by motor deficits, and anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure), not directly with the impulsivity of suicide.
- Option B: High levels of dopamine are linked to psychosis, agitation, and mania, as seen in schizophrenia or bipolar manic episodes. While these conditions can increase suicide risk, high dopamine itself is not the direct cause of the suicidal impulse.
- Option D: High levels of serotonin are generally associated with well-being and mood stability. Antidepressant medications like SSRIs work by increasing the available serotonin in the brain to alleviate depression.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Neurochemical basis of suicidal behavior as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
- Nurses must conduct thorough suicide risk assessments for any patient with a mental health disorder, particularly depression, asking directly about suicidal thoughts, plans, and intent.
- When administering Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), nurses must monitor patients closely during the initial weeks for any paradoxical increase in agitation, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts (a 'black box' warning), especially in adolescents and young adults.
- A key nursing intervention is ensuring a safe environment by removing potential means of self-harm (e.g., sharp objects, belts, cords) for any patient identified as being at high risk for suicide.
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the core concept of the question, which is the neurochemical basis of suicidal tendency.
- Recall the primary functions of the neurotransmitters listed in the options. Serotonin is strongly linked to mood, depression, and impulse control. Dopamine is primarily associated with reward, motivation, and motor function.
- Evaluate the options based on this knowledge. A tendency towards suicide involves elements of depression, hopelessness, and critically, poor impulse control.
- Connect these symptoms to the neurotransmitter functions. The link between low serotonin and poor impulse control/depression makes it the most plausible cause.
- Eliminate the other options. Dopamine is less directly related to impulse control in this context, and high serotonin is the therapeutic goal, not the cause of the problem.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Neurochemical basis of suicidal behavior
- Stem keywords: suicidal tendency, increased
- Lead-in keywords: associated with
Question ID
QO-llCFCv0h-Ce5D4FWEOM
Reference Book
E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 574-576
E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 5496-5498
Practise the full RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2018
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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