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Suicidal Ideation and Risk Levels Among Primary Care Patients With Uncomplicated Depression

¹ Weill Medical College of Cornell University, White Plains, NY
² Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH
³ Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Duke University, Durham, NC
⁴ Center for Research Strategies, Denver, Colo

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Herbert C. Schulberg, PhD, MSHyg, Cornell University, 21 Bloomingdale Rd, White Plains, NY 10605, hcs2001{at}med.cornell.edu

PURPOSE We investigated the prevalence, severity, and course of passive and active suicidal ideation occurring in primary care patients with an uncomplicated depressive disorder.

METHODS We studied suicidal ideation experienced by patients recruited in 60 primary care practices participating in a randomized controlled trial of depression management. Risk levels associated with suicidal ideation and plans were determined by a 2-stage procedure using pertinent items of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-20, and the Cornell structured assessment interview and management algorithm.

RESULTS Of the 761 patients whom physicians judged in need of treatment for a clinical depression, 405 (53%) were experiencing uncomplicated dysthymia, major depression, or both. Among these depressed patients, about 90% had no risk or a low risk of self-harm based on the presence and nature of suicidal ideation; the rest had an intermediate risk. Almost all patients who were initially classified at the no or low risk levels remained at these levels during the subsequent 6 months. The incidence of suicidal ideation at a risk level requiring the physician’s immediate attention in this no- or low-risk subgroup was 1.1% at 3 months and 2.6% at 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS Almost all patients with uncomplicated dysthymia, major depression, or both acknowledging suicidal ideation of the minimal risk type when initially assessed maintained this minimal risk status during the subsequent 6 months.

Key Words: Depression • suicide • suicidality • suicidal ideation • suicidal risk • risk factors • clinical course

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