An evidence-based approach to evaluating and managing suicidal emergencies

This article presents a framework for making suicide risk estimations, as w ell as recommendations for the management of suicidal emergencies, that are useful to the practitioner. It provides a review, of existing empirical da ta concerning factors significantly related to acute suicidal behaviors wit hin high-risk diagnoses. Findings across studies are categorized into risk profiles (as proposed by Clark & Fawcett. 1992) that are meant to aid the c linician in the application of recent research. The profiles are intended a s templates in development and clearly require continual updating and clari fication as new studies are completed. The article then addresses related m anagement issues such as the importance of viewing risk factors within a co mprehensive suicide assessment and the impact of possible negative therapis t reactions when working with high-risk patients. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Son s, Inc.