The Article in Brief

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

Herbert C. Schulberg, PhD, MSHyg , and colleagues

Background Primary care doctors play an important role in identifying and treating suicidal patients. Because depression is a major risk factor for suicide, this study examines rates of suicidal thoughts and risk levels for suicide among depressed primary care patients.

What This Study Found Using both a screening test and an interview, patients with depression were classified according to their risk for suicide. After 3 months and 6 months, almost all patients were at the same or a lower risk level.

Implications

• The two-stage process in this study, using a screening test and interview, appears to be successful for assessing depressed patients’ risk of suicide.