The Effects of Suicide Ideation Assessments on Urges to Self-Harm and Suicide

Abstract

The inclusion of suicidal participants in research interviews rarely increased suicide risk. Research involving suicidal individuals is possible when study protocols are well planned and executed by trained assessors and clinicians who are able to identify participants at risk and provide intervention if necessary. The few participants that required intervention had high levels of suicide ideation and behavior at baseline and almost all reported symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. Further study is needed to better characterize this subgroup of participants.