ABSTRACT
This chapter, written for undergraduate medical students and post-graduate doctors in training, presents information on how to manage suicide — a case which they are likely to encounter in the future in a general practice setting. It presents the case of a 47-year-old woman who has led a troubled life. She worked variously as a hairdresser, a shop assistant and a building society clerk. She has been attending more frequently in the last year, with lethargy, headache and insomnia. She denies feeling depressed, but her somatic symptoms, the expression on her face, her downcast gaze and quiet voice all speak otherwise. The chapter provides details of the patients' medical history and the key findings of clinical examination, together with initial investigation results data for evaluation, and helps them develop their skills of clinical reasoning. Key questions then prompt the student to evaluate the patient, and reach a decision regarding their condition and the possible treatment plan.
