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. 2017 Feb;58(2):72-77.
doi: 10.11622/smedj.2017006.

Depression in primary care: assessing suicide risk

Chung Wai Mark Ng  1 , Choon How How  2 , Yin Ping Ng  3   4
Affiliations

Depression in primary care: assessing suicide risk

Chung Wai Mark Ng et al. Singapore Med J. 2017 Feb.

Abstract

Major depression is a common condition seen in the primary care setting. This article describes the suicide risk assessment of a depressed patient, including practical aspects of history-taking, consideration of factors in deciding if a patient requires immediate transfer for inpatient care and measures to be taken if the patient is not hospitalised. It follows on our earlier article about the approach to management of depression in primary care.

Keywords: depression; primary care; suicide risk assessment.

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Figures

Box 1
Box 1
SAD PERSONS scale for assessment of suicide risk:
Box 2
Box 2
Risk factors for suicide:(10,24)
Box 3
Box 3
Components of suicidal ideation:(31-33)
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Step-wise approach to assessing suicidal ideation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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