Suicide risk assessment and prediction.
Cognitive therapy research has yielded (1) a taxonomy of suicidal behaviors, (2) scales for assessing suicidal ideation and intent, and (3) a model of suicidal wishes and behavior that identifies hopelessness as a key psychological variable in suicide prediction. The establishment of hopelessness as a suicide risk factor has been supported most strongly by prospective studies of inpatients and outpatients. A cutoff score of nine on the Beck Hopelessness Scale appears to be predictive of eventual suicide. Other cognitive factors associated with suicidal wishes and behaviors are discussed.
Beck
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Dept. of Psychiatry, Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
Weishaar
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D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D006801:Humans; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D000092864:Suicide Prevention