Suicide-Prevention Contracts: Advantages, Disadvantages, and an Alternative Approach (IN: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Suicide Assessment and Intervention, edited by D G Jacobs)

The purpose of this chapter is: to define the suicide-prevention contract; review its history; outline indications & contraindications for its use; understand the influence of collateral topics; & discuss an alternative approach, informed consent, for managing the risk of suicide. It is argued that informed consent allows the clinician to achieve therapeutic aims & to manage risk. The chapter concludes with recommendations for suicide risk management & implications for clinicians.