Recognition of suicide signs by physicians in different areas of specialization

Although physicians play a major role in dealing with potentially suicidal individuals, little research has been conducted to assess physicians' knowledge of who may or may not present a suicidal risk. The authors in this article present data on the ability of 202 physicians to recognize well established signs of suicide potential. Physicians in 14 areas of medical specialization completed a 13-item, multiple-choice examination of components taken from a suicide potential rating scale. The results revealed that certain groups of physicians predictably scored highest (for example, psychiatrists) but that most physicians were equally knowledgeable about the signs studied.