Citation

McDowell AK, Lineberry TW, Bostwick JM. Mayo Clin. Proc. 2011; 86(8): 792-800.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.4065/mcp.2011.0076

PMID

21709131

PMCID

PMC3146379

Abstract

Suicide is a public health problem and a leading cause of death. The number of people thinking seriously about suicide, making plans, and attempting suicide is surprisingly high. In total, primary care clinicians write more prescriptions for antidepressants than mental health clinicians and see patients more often in the month before their death by suicide. Treatment of depression by primary care physicians is improving, but opportunities remain in addressing suicide-related treatment variables. Collaborative care models for treating depression have the potential both to improve depression outcomes and decrease suicide risk. Alcohol use disorders and anxiety symptoms are important comorbid conditions to identify and treat. Management of suicide risk includes understanding the difference between risk factors and warning signs, developing a suicide risk assessment, and practically managing suicidal crises.

Language: en