Assessment and management of suicide risk

The assessment and management of suicide risk are probably the most difficult tasks thatclinicians encounter during their professional careers despite the abundant literature and guidelines nowavailable. Each health professional should be able to perform an assessment of suicide risk, althoughsuch assessments are usually performed by psychiatrists. During such assessments, clinicians may behelped by psychometric instruments despite the fact that such instruments are not in many cases entirelyreliable. The management of suicide risk is an art that must be based on science. Clinicians shouldevaluate the role of pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy and hospitalization in the reduction of suicide risk,while maintaining high levels of empathy with the patient. At the present time, only lithium andclozapine have shown promise for reducing suicidality, more so than antidepressants. Education ofpsychotherapists and medical staff remains one of the priorities for better assessing and managingsuicide risk. © 2012 Bentham Science Publishers. All rights reserved.