Suicide Attempts: Time Patterns Before and During Treatment

The American Journal of Psychiatry published a study detailing the time patterns of suicide attempts by outpatients just beginning psychotherapy or medication. Using data from a health plan, researchers evaluated the outpatient claims of patients beginning new depression treatment prescribed by a primary practitioner (N=70,368), psychiatrist (N=7,297), or an initial psychotherapy visit (N=54,123). Suicide attempts were highest among patients receiving treatment from psychiatrists (1,124 per 100,000), lower for those receiving psychotherapy (778 per 100,000), and lowest for primary practice patients (301 per 100,000). Patterns of suicide attempt did not vary among the 3 groups; the most attempts occurred in the month before starting treatment, next highest during the month starting treatment, and then subsequently declining.
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/164/7/1029

-LS