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Auxiliary methods in suicidal risk assessment

Publication |
2020

Abstract

Suicidal risk assessment is still a major challenge not only in psychiatric practice. The general idea indicates that the clinical evaluation is superior to the standardized methods of evaluation.

However, this idea is not confirmed in prospective studies. Application of the standardized methods of evaluation achieves equal results.

Moreover, application of the standardized methods of evaluation with thorough documentation can also be used as a protective aspect in the case of allegations of misconduct in the healthcare. provision. The assessment and treatment of suicidality only in the context of the psychological pathology of chosen psychiatric disease is not an optimal complex procedure.

The submitted article focuses on the overview of the supplemental methods that can significantly enrich psychiatric examination in suicide assessment - selected suicide risk assessment tools including a collaborative approach and follow-up specific psychotherapy for suicidality, projective methods and ultimately application of the computational techniques such as machine learning and natural language processing, that use data from electronic medical databases. The article also discusses possible alternatives to exploration and collaborative evaluation of suicidality with a virtual doctor by interactive computer program.

The risk assessment tools are also mapped in terms of individual evaluated items, administration, training possibilities, copyright and availability of their Czech, respectively Slovak version. The article focuses on a collaborative approach in the assessment and the management of a suicidal patient by application of the quantitative and the more detailed qualitative methods of responses collection and evaluation.

The collaborative approach also serves as a therapeutic framework and plan in associated psychotherapy specific for the suicidality. The above-mentioned approach is also proven to be safe and effective method to reduce unnecessary and often stigmatizing hospitalizations.