Citation

Krieger G. Dis. Nerv. Syst. 1974; 35(5): 237-240.

Affiliation

Psychiatry Service, Veterans Administration Hospital, Palo Alto, California, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1974, Physicians Postgraduate Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

17894107

Abstract

There is an urgent need for additional diagnostic instruments to differentiate the high suicide risk patient from the low risk patient. The suicide-to-be tends to have a higher mean 8:30 A.M. plasma cortisol level than the suicidal risk with lower suicide potential. If a suicidal risk patient has a plasma cortisol level above 20 ug%, in the absence of other possible causes for such a high level, we recommend he be recognized as having a high potential for suicide, be provided with more protective precautions, more frequent contacts with his therapist and prolonged after-care.

Language: en