Deficiencies in suicide training in primary care specialties: a survey of training directors.
OBJECTIVE
A high percentage of suicide victims have seen a primary care physician in the months before committing suicide. Thus, primary care physicians may play an important role in suicide prevention.


METHODS
The authors mailed a survey to directors of training programs in family practice, internal medicine, and pediatrics, and 50.5% responded. Data obtained were analyzed with WebStat.


RESULTS
Training directors reported deficiencies in training in suicide and depression. Notably, less than half of the internal medicine and pediatrics training directors who replied reported that teaching about suicide was adequate. The majority of them indicated a need for standardized curricular materials on suicide and depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Experts could provide standardized curricula to primary care residencies in the recognition and management of suicide and depression. More robust training about these vital mental health concerns in primary care could reduce morbidity and mortality.
Sudak
Donna
D
Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Roy
Alec
A
Sudak
Howard
H
Lipschitz
Alan
A
Maltsberger
John
J
Hendin
Herbert
H
D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D003625:Data Collection; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education; D007396:Internship and Residency; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education; D008486:Physician Executives; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000193:education*; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000092864:Suicide Prevention