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Monitoring, Evaluation, and Referral of Patients with Suicide Risk Upon Hospital Admission

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Understanding Suicide

Abstract

Monitoring patients for suicide risk is a vital aspect of both initial and long-term psychiatric care for patients with suicidal behavior. A prior suicide attempt is the biggest risk factor for completed suicide, and the period immediately following a suicide attempt requires a high level of vigilance on the part of the care providers. Ongoing long-term monitoring for suicide risk is also crucial, because the risk of suicide can persist well beyond the acute phase of care. In this chapter, we discuss the importance of monitoring patients for suicide risk. We outline a number of well-known risk factors for suicidal behavior and discuss standardized instruments that are effective at predicting a high risk of suicidal behavior. We also detail our unit’s specific experience in dealing with suicidal patients and describe out strategies for inpatient and outpatient care as well as methods for ensuring continuity of care between these distinct phases.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Seville, Seville, Spain

    Lucas Giner MD, PhD

  2. Department of Emergency Medical Services, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA

    Christopher W. Root BA

  3. Department of Psychiatric Emergency and Acute Care, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France

    Philippe Courtet

  4. INSERM U1061, University of Montpellier UM, Montpellier, France

    Philippe Courtet

  5. FondaMental Foundation, Créteil, France

    Philippe Courtet

Authors
  1. Lucas Giner MD, PhD
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  2. Christopher W. Root BA
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  3. Philippe Courtet
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lucas Giner MD, PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Academic Hospital of Montpellier, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France

    Philippe Courtet

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Giner, L., Root, C.W., Courtet, P. (2016). Monitoring, Evaluation, and Referral of Patients with Suicide Risk Upon Hospital Admission. In: Courtet, P. (eds) Understanding Suicide. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26282-6_34

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26282-6_34

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-26280-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-26282-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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