This practical handbook presents an evidence model for understanding and treating suicidal behavior in all its forms, providing easy-to-use assessment tools for clinical practice-including "interactive" self-assessments to highlight important ethical points and checklists against which readers can assess how they are doing-clinical vignettes and narratives to illustrate key assessment and intervention principles, and an intervention model for working with suicide survivors. Each chapter is designed for use in individual instruction or as a training module.

Table of Contents

Preface. Introduction: the dimensions of suicidal behavior. The clinician's emotions, values, legal exposure, and ethics: global issues in the treatment of suicidal patients. A basic model of suicidal behavior. Assessment of suicidal behavior and predisposing factors: blending your assessment with treatment. Outpatient interventions with suicidal patients. The repetitiously suicidal patient: evaluation, psychotherapy, and basic case management. Managing suicidal emergencies: more on crisis and case management. Hospitals and suicidal behavior: a complex relationship. Working with special populations: substance-abusing, psychotic, young, and elderly patients. Suicidal patients in general health care. Understanding and providing care to survivors of suicide. Appendix A: philosophies about suicide. Appendix B: consequences of suicidal behavior questionnaire. Appendix C: reasons for living inventory. Appendix D: suicidal thinking and behaviors questionnaire. Appendix E: malpractice management assessment. Index.

About the Author

John A. Chiles, M.D., is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Sound Psychiatry Consulting Group, in Port Townsend, Washington. Kirk Strosahl, Ph.D., is a Clinical Psychologist at Mountainview Consulting Group Inc., in Moxee, Washington.

Reviews

"A psychiatrist and psychologist have teamed up to outline a workable approach for addressing suicidal patients. The book encourages professionals of all disciplines to examine their own attitudes about suicide and their impact on their work. The authors seek to offer accessible and wise advice on one of the most difficult challenges clinicians will experience."-- "Behavioral Healthcare Tomorrow"