The role of the clinical interview in suicide risk assessment

2021 ◽  
pp. 375-382
Author(s):  
Mark Schechter ◽  
John T. Maltsberger
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Crisis Intervention ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Clinical Interview ◽  
Suicide Risk Assessment ◽  
Treatment Relationship ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Suicidal Patients

In this text, the role of the clinical interview in the assessment of suicide risk is discussed. In assessing risk, both the ‘objective/descriptive’ and the ‘experiential’ perspectives are important, which will be described in more detail. In addition to the role of the clinical interview in assessing risk, this critical clinical interaction is also the beginning of the treatment relationship and crisis intervention; thus, it has a role in reducing the risk of suicide. Finally, we comment briefly on the clinician’s conscious, as well as unconscious responses to the patient or ‘countertransference’ that can arise in the interview of potentially suicidal patients, and their potential impact on the assessment of risk.

scholarly journals A new suicide risk assessment tool in Nova Scotia, Canada

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. E30-E34
Author(s):  
Joseph Sadek ◽  
Mary Pyche ◽  
Scott Theriault ◽  
Nicholas Delva ◽  
Sonia Chehil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Clinical Interview ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Suicide Risk Assessment ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Clinical Competencies

Suicide is a major public health concern. In Canada, suicide is the ninth leading cause of death in all ages, with a rate of 10.3 deaths per 100,000 people. In Nova Scotia, Canada, 137 suicides were reported in 2016 [1]. Suicide risk assessment (SRA) and management are clinical competencies required for patient care. Strategies used for SRA include the use of formal self-report measures [2], personalized clinical interview however vital information about suicide risk may be missed during that unstructured assessment [3] and structured tool to supplement the clinical interview.

Improving Risk Assessment with Suicidal Patients

Crisis ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 231-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Nelson ◽  
Megan Johnston ◽  
Amresh Shrivastava
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Suicide Risk Assessment ◽  
Risk Assessment Tools ◽  
Admission Status ◽  
Suicidal Patients ◽  
New Strategies

Background: Although a number of suicide-risk assessment tools are available to clinicians, the high levels of suicide still evident in society suggest a clear need for new strategies in order to facilitate the prevention of suicidal behaviors. Aims: The present study examined the utilization of a new structured clinical interview called the Scale for Impact of Suicidality Management, Assessment, and Planning of Care (SIS-MAP). Methods: SIS-MAP ratings were obtained from a group of incoming psychiatric patients over a 6-month period at Regional Mental Health Care, St. Thomas, Canada. Results: A canonical discriminant function analysis resulted in a total 74.0% of original grouped cases correctly classified based on admission status (admitted or not; Wilks λ = .749, p < .001). The specificity of the scale was 78.1%, while the sensitivity of the scale was 66.7%. Additionally, mean total scores on the scale were used to establish clinical cutoffs to facilitate future level of care decisions. Conclusions: Preliminary analysis suggests the SIS-MAP is a valid and reliable tool for determining the level of psychiatric care needed for adults with suicidal ideation.

scholarly journals Assessments in Psychotherapy with Suicidal Patients: The Precedence of Alliance Work

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Østlie ◽  
Erik Stänicke ◽  
Hanne Haavind
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Integrate Assessment ◽  
Suicide Risk Assessment ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Philosophical Perspective ◽  
One Year ◽  
Assessment Procedures ◽  
Suicidal Patients

AbstractIn this article the aim was to explore how therapists handle suicide risk assessment in connection with patient’s experience of alliance in psychotherapy. In a naturalistic, longitudinal study, 19 suicidal patients were interviewed three times: just before they started in therapy (T1), during the early phase (T2), and again after one year (T3). 17 therapists were interviewed separately at T2 and T3. The interviews explored the personal experiences of both patients and therapists, including their handling of suicidality and the quality of their relationships. An interpretative-phenomenological approach was used to analyze the research interviews case by case, as seen from the perspective of both therapist and patient in each dyad. Because of their duties within the Norwegian Healthcare System, all therapists are obliged to follow the National Guidelines in suicide risk assessment. The results indicate that there are two pitfalls for therapists: to avoid the topic of suicidality and using the suicide risk assessment in a rigid way. Both pitfalls have disturbing effects on the working alliance between therapist and patient. Most of the therapists were able to integrate personalized assessment procedures in the running dialogue. Our argument here is that in order to integrate assessment with therapeutic work, it is important for the therapist to establish ethical responsibility with patient. A modern philosophical perspective on ethics of closeness is discussed.

What Can be Learned from the Systematic Analysis of Suicides that Occur in the Healthcare System?

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
D. Wasserman
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Suicide Risk Assessment ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Transfer Of Information ◽  
Suicidal Patients

Many European countries have a national suicide preventive programme. In June 2008, a new national programme for suicide prevention was approved by the Swedish Parliament in Sweden. One of the nine strategies in this programme is an assignment called ‘Lex Maria’ - to report all suicides that occur within or 28 days after contact with the healthcare system to The National Board of Health and Welfare (NBHW). Lex Maria guarantees that a systematic evaluation will always occur, providing opportunities to identify components which can be improved when treating suicidal patients. All Lex Maria reports are registered in a separate database at NBHW, allowing systematic analysis at a national level. The methodology used in this analysis will be presented, with examples of individual cases.Analysis of all suicide cases, which occurred in Sweden in 2006 within the health care system, uncovered the following areas which should be improved when working with suicidal people:•Better routines for suicide risk assessment;•Better routines for documentation of suicide risk assessment and changes in patients mood;•Better routines for the transfer of information within the same unit;•Better communication between units to ensure correct transfer of information;•Better routines for collaboration between care givers to ensure a continuity of care.In order to increase the competence of psychiatric health care staff in caring for suicidal patients, an annual 2 day education programme/course is recommended. The government also has an ambition to increase awareness of suicide prevention in the population.

Development of a suicide risk assessment scale - surias

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 1621-1621 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Kapusta
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Predictive Power ◽  
Risk Markers ◽  
Suicide Risk Assessment ◽  
Standard Procedures ◽  
Suicidal Patients ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Current Risk

Suicide risk assessment is an important task in clinical psychiatry. Interestingly, several suicide risk assessmet tools have been developed but their usability suffers from distinct problems. First, they do not have a sufficient positive predictive power, with many false positives. Second, the scales often focus on the assessment of current risk markers, such as suicidal ideation, omitting well known long term risk factors. Third, clinicians are reluctant to assess suicidality, because they are uncomfortable with severly suicidal patients, due to a lack of standard procedures of management in outpatient and inpatient situations. But it has been suggested to include suicide assessment in the DSM-5, which may confront us with the need of assessment and management of suicidal patients in the near future.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document