Risk versus motivation: the emergency room treatment of attempted suicide

This paper deals with patients who attempt suicide, focusing on their evaluation in the emergency room. It is suggested that as the actual risk of completed suicide in suicide attempters is low, the evaluating psychiatrist might preferentially focus on assessing the patient's motivation for self-destructive behaviour. Recent studies are reviewed which demonstrate a linkage between self-destructive acts and the status of relationships with significant others. An illustrative case history is presented.