Problems in assessing suicide potential among psychiatric patients

Abstract

1. Clinicians are often asked to predict infrequent events, such as suicide. 2. Use of an objective test or device to aid in such prediction is attractive and tempting. 3. A limited trial of a promising paper-and-pencil test illustrates some of the problems met in a clinical situation. 4. An outline of further difficulties in field application of such a psychometric device is presented. 5. A discussion of the importance of time, economy and feasibility in assessing the usefulness of such prediction instruments points out their failure to improve on the use of clinical signs.