title: Occult suicidality in an emergency department population.
abstract: The prevalence and severity of suicidal ideation was established in a patient sample seeking emergency treatment for non-psychiatric reasons. Using a computerised mental health screening panel, data were collected from waiting-room patients during randomised shifts over a 45-day period. Of 1590 screened patients, 185 (11.6%) acknowledged suicidal ideation and 31 (2%) reported planning to kill themselves. Almost all of those with suicidal ideation (97%) acknowledged symptoms consistent with mood, anxiety and/or substance-related disorders. Structured medical record review revealed that 25 of the 31 patients planning suicide were undetected during their index visit, and that 4 attempted suicide within 45 days of the visit. All survived.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9119, USA. Cindy.Claassen@UTSouthwestern.edu
authors.forename: Cynthia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Claassen
authors.forename: Gregory L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Larkin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000592:standards; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*