The Suicidal Patient

Suicidal ideation is a common psychiatric emergency seen across a broad range of patients. Although admission to a dedicated psychiatric unit is preferable, patients with suicidal ideation are often admitted to internal medicine or family medicine services, either for management of comorbid medical conditions or because of a lack of available psychiatry beds. Primary care physicians and emergency physicians are particularly likely to encounter suicidal patients, given their high clinical volume and the relatively high prevalence of suicidality in their community of patients. In addition, many patients who present with nonpsychiatric complaints will also have concurrent suicidal ideation. This review discusses the approach to the patient, and definitive treatment, disposition, and outcomes. Figures show suicide in 2010 was the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for 38,364 deaths, men are more likely to use firearms and hanging, while women are more likely to attempt suicide by poisoning, and suicide is more common in whites and Native Americans compared to Hispanics or Asians.  This review contains 3 figures, 6 tables, and 45 references. Keywords: Suicide,