Suicide medical therapy

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] ; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Ganti M.B.B.S. [2]

Overview

Effective medical management include hospitalization of high risk individuals and stabilizing.

Management

Medical management of patients who underwent suicide attempt or at high risk to commit suicide include:

• Hospitalization
• Stabilization

Hospitalization

All patients who attempted or at risk of suicide are admitted into hospital irrespective of their consent. As described identification of risk factors and presence of warning signs warrants an hospitalization.

• Patients must be isolated and kept in room with minimal potential of harming himself.
• Family members are allowed to stay if the patient intends.
• A hospital staff must be assigned to provide constant observation.
• Transfer of the patient should take place by ambulance, and the paramedics must be aware of the suicide risk.
• Inpatient treatment should continue until the patient’s safety has stabilized.
• Patients who are admitted involuntarily cannot be given medications other than that are required for stabilization.
• In case patients who are not stable to consent and require medications for underlying psychiatric disorders, clinicians will need to petition a court to order treatment.

Outpatient Management

• Indicated in patients who are stable and not at high risk of suicide attempt and includes:
  • Involvement of the family to regularly monitor the patient
  • Restricting access to all lethal means of suicide
  • Identifying and avoiding triggers for relapse of suicidal ideation and warning signs
  • Educating patients and caregivers
  • Specifying coping strategies and healthy activities
  • Securing mental health follow-up within 48 hours.