DSM-IV-TR® Handbook of Differential Diagnosis Chapter 2. Differential Diagnosis by the Trees > Trees Based on Presenting Symptoms > Decision Tree for Suicidal Ideation or Attempt Topics Discussed: feeling suicidal; suicide attempt. Excerpt: "See Decision Tree. When evaluating suicidality, it is important to determine the urgency of current suicidal thoughts, the degree to which definite plans have been formulated and acted on, the availability of a means of suicide, the lethality of the method, the urgency of the impulse, the presence of psychotic symptoms, the history of previous suicidal thoughts and attempts, family history of suicidal behavior, and current and past substance use. The degree of suicidality is on a continuum ranging from recurrent wishes to be dead, to feelings that others would be better off if one were dead ("passive suicidal thoughts"), to formulating suicidal plans to overt suicidal behaviors.Perhaps because suicidal behavior is a defining feature of a Major Depressive Episode, most people associate suicide most closely with Mood Disorders. Although certainly suicide is an important complication of mood disorders, as this tree illustrates, it must be considered in the management of a wide array of DSM-IV-TR disorders. Moreover, the risk of suicide increases dramatically when the..." DOI: 10.1176/appi.books.9781585622658.119073 The content above is only an excerpt. For full access subscribe now or log into your account below. You can also purchase 24- or 48-hour access; learn more Username: Password:   FORGOT your subscriber username and/or password? Get a reminder via email: The email I registered with is:  Not a subscriber? Subscribe Today PsychiatryOnline is a powerful website that features DSM-IV-TR® and The American Journal of Psychiatry as the cornerstones of an unsurpassed collection of psychiatric references, including books, journals, and self-assessment tools. PsychiatryOnline’s innovative platform makes these resources easy and convenient to use, offering Precise and powerful searching across books and journals. Quick pathways to related material. Mobile access from any computer with a Web connection. Ability to download any book section to PDA. Links from bibliographic references to the full text of journal articles. References to material not located in the PsychiatryOnline collection lead you to PubMed. Learn more about PsychiatryOnline Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing PsychiatryOnline@psych.org or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).