Suicide Screening
DEFINITION
- Suicide is defined as "death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with an intent to die as a result of the behavior"[1].
- In 2010, suicide was the tenth-leading cause of death in the U.S.[2]
- Suicide screening is "a procedure in which a standardized instrument or protocol is used to identify individuals who may be at risk for suicide"[3].
- There can be universal or selective suicide screening.
- Universal screening is applied to an entire population regardless of whether they are thought to be at higher risk or not, e.g. every patient visiting a primary care office.
- Selective screening is applied to members of a group that research has shown to be at a higher than average risk for suicide, e.g. only patients with depression.
- In contrast, suicide assessment usually follows a positive screen. It can be typically defined as "a more comprehensive evaluation done by a clinician to confirm suspected suicide risk, estimate the immediate danger to the patient, and decide on a course of treatment"[3].
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Last updated: December 8, 2019
Citation
, Jaclyn Nguyen, and Paul Nestadt. "Suicide Screening." Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide, 2019. Johns Hopkins Guides, www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787380/all/Suicide_Screening.
J, Nestadt P. Suicide Screening. Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide. 2019. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787380/all/Suicide_Screening. Accessed September 25, 2023.
, J., & Nestadt, P. (2019). Suicide Screening. In Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787380/all/Suicide_Screening
J, Nestadt P. Suicide Screening [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide. ; 2019. [cited 2023 September 25]. Available from: https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787380/all/Suicide_Screening.
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