title: Suicide risk assessments: Examining influences on clinicians' professional judgment.
abstract: Professional judgment in complex clinical situations such as the assessment of suicide risk encompasses a multifaceted cognitive understanding of the substantive issues, technical expertise, and emotional awareness. This experimental design study investigated the degree to which the previous work-related experiences of clinicians and their preexisting emotional state influence professional judgment regarding acute risk in patients presenting with suicidal ideation. Experienced social workers and social work students conducted suicide risk assessments on 2 standardized patients performing in scenarios constructed to depict individuals presenting with suicidal ideation. This study revealed significant variations in clinical judgments of practitioners assessing suicide risk. While scores on standardized risk assessment measures were the strongest predictor of judgments regarding the need for hospitalization to ensure the safety of the patient, other influences included clinician age and levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms. Mental health clinicians and organizations that employ them should be aware of possible individual influences on professional judgments related to suicide risk.
authors.affiliation: Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Regehr
authors.affiliation: Wilson Centre, University of Toronto.
authors.forename: Vicki R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: LeBlanc
authors.affiliation: Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bogo
authors.affiliation: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paterson
authors.affiliation: Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto.
authors.forename: Arija
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Birze
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide; D055815:Young Adult