[Assessment of suicidality: from prediction to prevention].

BACKGROUND

When people have suicidal thoughts, risk assessment is usually conducted using the CASE approach.

AIM: To evaluate this approach.

METHOD: Reviewing research on ways to detect, predict, and understand suicidality.

RESULTS

Risk assessment misses about half of suicides and yields many false positives. Simple techniques may help detect suicidality more often. The narrative interview appears effective in identifying the forces that might drive someone to attempt suicide.

CONCLUSION

A shift from risk- to action-oriented assessment seems warranted.