Assessment and treatment of a suicidal patient

This case study describes the nursing treatment of a suicidal patient in an interim secure unit. The authors describe the process of in-depth assessment using the clinic's own global nursing assessment schedule, incorporating a number of rating scales. They explain the design of a single-case methodology which enabled them to assess the effectiveness of different treatment interventions. The study describes how the consistent application of care plans and the use of cognitive counselling were more effective than psychotropic medication in reducing the patient's depression and suicidal urges. The authors demonstrate the importance of nursing assessment and highlight the need to evaluate response to treatment. They emphasise the way in which mental nursing has developed from a primarily caring role to that of a clinical specialty. This nursing care study was a runner-up in the NTS/Special Hospitals Service Authority forensic nursing study competition.