A 29-year-old woman attends the emergency department after deliberately cutting her forearm following an argument. She has attended twice for

Question

A 29-year-old woman attends the emergency department after deliberately cutting her forearm following an argument. She has attended twice for self-harm in the past month. The wound requires suturing but has no tendon, nerve or vascular injury. She is physiologically stable. Her blood alcohol concentration is 110 mg/100 mL, but she is alert, converses coherently and can describe what happened. She denies current suicidal intent and agrees to remain for assessment. A triage risk scale categorises her as ‘low risk’. Liaison psychiatry is available. Which assessment and disposition plan is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Arrange liaison psychosocial assessment alongside wound care, then plan disposition and aftercare from its findings.

Answer

Arrange liaison psychosocial assessment after wound care, then plan disposition and aftercare from its findings.

Answer

Arrange medical admission until alcohol is undetectable, then request liaison psychosocial assessment.

Answer

Arrange discharge after wound care using the low-risk score, with liaison assessment at follow-up.

Answer

Arrange psychiatric admission after wound care because of recurrent self-harm, with psychosocial assessment on the ward.

Self-harm with alcohol intoxication — MRCEM SBA MCQ