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Many suicide risk assessment scores exist, though the Modified SAD PERSONS scale is probably the best known and most widely used in the Emergency setting. No Scale is 100% predictive of suicidal behavior and thus it is always best to err on the side of caution by consulting with your local psychiatry service if unsure. A small study by Cochrane-Brink et al in 2000 compared several of the suicide risk assessment scores and found that the Modified SAD PERSONS Scale had a Sensitivity of 100% for predicting hospital admission and 60% Specificity. Previous Emergency based studies have placed the Sensitivity at 94% and Specificity of 71%. All suicidal patients should be screened for the presence of firearms in the home and any threats to others including ex-spouses and children.
References
Hockberger et al. Assessment of suicide potential by nonpsychiatrists using the SAD PERSONS score. J Emerg Med 6 (1988), pp. 99-107
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Cochrane-Brink et al. Clinical rating scales in suicide risk assessment. General Hospital Psychiatry, Vol 22(6), p. 445, 2000
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