Which patient is at highest risk for suicide based on the provided risk factors (age, cancer, divorce, alcoholism, living alone, past attempt)?

Which patient is at highest risk for suicide based on the provided risk factors (age, cancer, divorce, alcoholism, living alone, past attempt)?

• A. 50-year-old with no prior attempts
• B. 30-year-old with good support
• C. 70-year-old man with prostate cancer, history of serious suicide attempt, divorce, alcoholism, and living alone
• D. 65-year-old with stable marriage and no alcohol use

Answer: (C)

Risk escalates when multiple factors stack up, especially when a past suicide attempt is present, as it is a strong predictor on its own. Add serious illness, older age, social isolation (living alone), relationship disruption (divorce), and alcohol use, and the overall danger signal becomes much more pronounced. The patient described has all of these high-risk elements: an older male with cancer, a history of a serious suicide attempt, divorced, drinking alcohol, and living alone. This combination spans biological, psychological, and social domains, amplifying risk far more than the others who lack several of these factors or have protective supports in place.

Risk escalates when multiple factors stack up, especially when a past suicide attempt is present, as it is a strong predictor on its own. Add serious illness, older age, social isolation (living alone), relationship disruption (divorce), and alcohol use, and the overall danger signal becomes much more pronounced. The patient described has all of these high-risk elements: an older male with cancer, a history of a serious suicide attempt, divorced, drinking alcohol, and living alone. This combination spans biological, psychological, and social domains, amplifying risk far more than the others who lack several of these factors or have protective supports in place.