An evidence-based approach to evaluating and managing suicidal emergencies

This article presents a framework for making suicide risk estimations, as well as recommendations for the management of suicidal emergencies, that are useful to the practitioner. It provides a review of existing empirical data concerning factors significantly related to acute suicidal behaviors within high-risk diagnoses. Findings across studies are categorized into risk profiles (as proposed by Clark & Fawcett, 1992) that are meant to aid the clinician in the application of recent research. The profiles are intended as templates in development and clearly require continual updating and clarification as new studies are completed. The article then addresses related management issues such as the importance of viewing risk factors within a comprehensive suicide assessment and the impact of possible negative therapist reactions when working with high-risk patients.