Citation

Valente SM. Nurse Pract. 1993; 18(9): 41-50.

Affiliation

University of Southern California.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8414233

Abstract

Common medical conditions, treatments, medications, and depression can increase the risk of suicide, which is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. Health care providers are in key positions to prevent suicide because most people seek medical treatment for physical symptoms and they give clues before they commit suicide. Unfortunately, suicide risk typically remains undetected because suicide clues, including depression, are overlooked. This article reviews assessment of suicide risk, incidence of completed suicide, and interventions in primary care settings. Suicide lethality, therapeutic strategies, and referrals are considered. Depression is discussed because it is the most common precipitant of suicide in primary care.

Language: en