Sudden Improvement Among High-Risk Suicidal Patients: Should it be Trusted?

The authors discuss the clinical challenges of distinguishing real from feigned signs of recovery. Whereas genuine clinical improvement is a process, sudden patient improvement is a suspect event. The atuhors discuss clinical indicators that distinguish the two. They emphasize the importance of gathering corroborating evidence through communications with staff & the patient’s family. Suicide risk assessment is necessary throughout the patient’s illness & recovery. (10 refs.)