@article{ref1,
title="Use of no-suicide contracts by psychiatrists in Minnesota",
journal="American journal of psychiatry",
year="2000",
author="Kroll, J.",
volume="157",
number="10",
pages="1684-1686",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: The no-suicide contract is widely recommended as an important intervention in the care of suicidal patients; however, there are no data demonstrating its effectiveness or its acceptance in the professional community. This study examines the use of no-suicide contracts by psychiatrists in Minnesota. <br><br>METHOD: A postcard questionnaire was mailed to 514 psychiatrists in Minnesota inquiring about their practices and experiences with no-suicide contracts. <br><br>RESULTS: There were 267 responses, yielding a response rate of 52%. No-suicide contracts were used by 152 (57%) of the respondents. Within this group, 62 (41%) of the psychiatrists had patients who committed suicide or made serious attempts after entering into a no-suicide contract. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Among the respondents to the questionnaire, slightly more than half used no-suicide contracts, indicating that such contracts are not universally accepted as standard practice among these psychiatrists. More data are needed to determine the effectiveness of no-suicide contracts in preventing suicide.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0002-953X",
doi="10.1176/appi.ajp.157.10.1684",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.157.10.1684"
}