A 20-year-old economics major became severely depressed after failing two examinations in economics. She cried for 2 hours, then called her parents who live in a neighboring state, planning to ask if she could return home
However, her parents were in Europe. When her roommate went home for the weekend, the patient gave her three expensive sweaters to keep. Later, the dormitory resident assistant returned a book to the patient's room and found her unconscious on the floor, with an empty pill bottle nearby. The patient behavior that provided a clue to the suicide attempt was: a. calling her parents.
b. staying in her dorm room.
c. giving away her sweaters.
d. excessive crying.
C
Giving away prized possessions may signal that the individual thinks he or she will have no further need for the item, such as when a suicide plan has been formulated. Calling her parents would not be a clue in and of itself. Remaining in the dorm would be an expected behavior because the patient had nowhere else to go. Crying does not provide a clue to suicide in and of itself.
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