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Comprehensive Screening for Suicide Risk in Primary Care.
Guy S Diamond1, Joanna L Herres2, E Stephanie Krauthamer Ewing1
1Couple and Family Therapy Department, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
|April 16, 2017
Summary
Risk behaviors and social stress significantly increase suicide risk in adolescents, beyond depression. The Behavioral Health Screen effectively identifies these factors for early intervention in primary care.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent health
- Public health
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Suicide presents a significant public health challenge requiring comprehensive assessment tools.
- Screening beyond depression is crucial for early identification of suicide risk.
- The Behavioral Health Screen (BHS) was developed to assess multiple risk domains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify distinct profiles of risk behaviors and social stress associated with suicidal ideation and behavior in adolescents.
- To evaluate the utility of the Behavioral Health Screen in identifying at-risk youth.
Main Methods:
- Utilized screening data from 2,513 primary care patients aged 14-24 years.
- Collected data between 2008 and 2012, with analysis conducted in 2016.
- Employed latent class analysis to identify risk profiles.
Main Results:
- Identified high-risk and low-risk profiles for suicidal ideation and behavior.
- Key influencing domains included substance use, sexual assault, same-sex behavior, and unsafe sex.
- The high-risk group demonstrated significantly higher rates of suicide attempts and ideation.
Conclusions:
- Risk behaviors and social stress are critical contributors to youth suicide risk, independent of depression.
- Routine primary care visits should include assessment of these factors using tools like the BHS.
- The BHS assists primary care providers in identifying psychiatric and social stress factors linked to adolescent suicide.