Citation

Schulberg HC, Bruce ML, Lee PW, Williams JW, Dietrich AJ. Gen. Hosp. Psychiatry 2004; 26(5): 337-345.

Affiliation

Weill Medical College, Cornell University, White Plains, NY 10605, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2004.06.007

PMID

15474633

Abstract

Suicide is a critical public health problem that primary care physicians potentially can help address given that distressed patients frequently visit them in the weeks and months preceding the successful suicide. This article considers factors placing the patient at high risk for successful suicide and clinical assessment techniques available to the primary care physician. Patients who wish to harm themselves but still lack an articulated plan for doing so can be treated by the primary care physician with the monitoring assistance of a depression care manager and appropriate consultation by a mental health specialist.