Suicidal Behavior Disorder
The DSM is used as a guided by several health professionals to diagnose mental impairments. In 2013 APA published the DSM-5 with is the fifth edition of the “bible of psychiatry”. During this launching, the manual introduced suicidal behavior disorder as an independent mental disorder and was no longer identified as just symptom of personality disorder or of major depression. The DSM exerted much effort in pointing out the difference between suicidal ideation, attempted suicide and non-suicidal self-injurious behavior (Beacon, 2017).
Suicidal behavior disorder is categorized by one attempting suicide within the recent two years and it excludes other behaviors like non-suicidal self-injurious behavior and suicidal ideation. The manual describes suicidal attempt as a thoughtful act to induce self-harm with a distinct anticipation of death but non-fatal. Ideation of suicide is just thinking or having plans of plans while non-suicidal behavior is harming one-self with no intention of leading to death. Studies show that 10% of individuals who commit suicide do not agonize any mental illness and most persons suffering mood disorders hardly attempt suicide. This is not to assume that most people suffering mood disorders have not attempted suicides. Suicide attempts are always concealed or denied by the victims or the family of the victims(Porter, 2019).
The DSM-5 gives five proposed criterion for suicidal behavior disorder which have two specifiers. The first criterion is whether an individual has attempted suicide within the recent two years. The second criterion defines that the suicidal attempt was not made during an affected mental state such as confusion or delirium. The diagnosis criterion is also not applicable to attempt preparation or ideation of suicide. The diagnosis criterion also do not meet non-suicidal self-injurious behavior criterion in the previous suicidal attempts. Finally, the suicidal attempts are not motivated by ideologies such as political or religious ones. Other specifiers involve time of attempts. If the last attempt occurred between 12 and 24 months ago then it’s a current disorder, otherwise if it occurs more than 24 months after the last attempt it is considered to be in remission (Porter, 2019).
The DSM-5 indicates that the behavior can occur any time of one’s life but rarely occurs in kids below 5 years. Most suicidal attempts are concealed or denied and for this reason knowing the exact prevalence is very hard. However, almost 5 to 8% of teenagers attempts suicide annually. The risk factors for this disorder according to DSM-5 include depression or bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD and anxiety, drug and substance abuse, serving jail term, major depressive disorder, aging, loss of close ones, diagnosis of chronic medical illness, job loss or unemployment, marriage and dating problems, and bullying or social isolation for example cyberbullying(Beacon, 2017). Research shows that several peers are overwhelmed with cyberbullying. Besides, teens who are cyberbullied suffer are more likely to suffer from psychological and emotional stress, and even drive them to suicidal ideation and in extreme cases, suicidal attempts.
The manual indicates that this disorder is comorbid with the several mental illness that are outlined in the risk factors above. The DSM-5 further states that men are susceptible to suicidal attempts compared to women. Besides, men will always opt for lethal methods such as high height jumps or gun while their counterparts prefer less fatal and unreliable means such as overdosing or skin cuts (Porter, 2019). Every unsuccessful suicidal attempts may lead to injuries due to this disorder which might even impair functioning. Though DSM-5 does not specify any treatment options, treating the fundamental mental problems could help relieve those suicidal compulsions. However, that is not all; instilling hope on these people is very significant as this enables them to seek reasons to live instead of looking forward to self-harm.