Assessment and Management of Patients at Risk for Suicide: Synopsis of the 2024 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guidelines
Despite insufficient evidence to recommend for or against suicide risk screening programs as a means for reducing suicide attempts or deaths, the VA/DOD Work Group identified validated tools that could be used to identify populations at higher risk for suicide-related behaviors. Cognitive behavioral therapy was also recommended for reducing the risk for suicide attempts and decreasing suicidal ideation among those with a history of suicidal behavior or a history of self-directed violence. Periodic communications after previous suicide attempts were also recommended as a prevention strategy. Pharmacologic treatments, such as clozapine or ketamine infusion, also have a role in the management of suicide risk among those with schizophrenia or major depressive disorder, respectively.
Authors
- Joseph I. Constans (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4766-582X)
- Nazanin H. Bahraini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8504-3901)
- Lisa Anne Brenner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2629-214X)
- Vincent F. Capaldi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2235-6350)
- Derek J. Smolenski (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4767-075X)
- Steven K. Dobscha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1539-8950)
- Matthew A. Fuller (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9404-1713)
- Scott G. Williams (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4891-3824)
- James Sall (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8564-1314)
- Bridget B. Matarazzo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9518-1745)
- Kate McGraw (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3501-5443)
- K Richter
- Sarah Davis-Arnold
Institutions
- United States Department of Veterans Affairs (US)
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (US)
- Veterans Health Administration (US)
- VA Office of Research and Development (US)
- Health Services Research & Development (US)
- Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Centers (US)
- Health Affairs (US)
- VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (US)
- Case Western Reserve University (US)
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Annals of Internal Medicine
- Published
- 2025-02-04
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7326/annals-24-01938
- Citations
- 5
- Primary Topic
- Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 11.53