Screening for suicide risk in adolescent, adult, and senior patients in the absence of definite risk factors has no proven benefit in the primary care setting, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) said.
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In an update to a 2004 recommendation, which also found insufficient evidence to support suicide screening, the USPSTF found that neither benefits nor harms from routine suicide risk screening could be determined on the basis of existing research.
The finding of no proven benefit only applies to patients without certain risk factors, the USPSTF noted. The following are risk factors that may increase the likelihood of a suicide attempt:
The presence of a mental health disorder
Serious adverse events in childhood
A family history of suicide
Experiencing discrimination based on sexual orientation
Access to dangerous, lethal means to commit suicide
History of being bullied
Trouble sleeping
Chronic medical conditions
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