The treatment in the Danish suicide prevention clinics: a clinician perspective. (1st October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lahoz, Titia; Winsløv, Jan-Henrik; Christiansen, Rikke; Krogh, Søren; Knudsen, Per Bjerregaard; Wang, August G.; Erlangsen, Annette; Nielsen, Klaus
• Is Part Of: Nordic journal of psychiatry. Volume 74:Number 7(2020)
• Page Start: 533
• Page End: 540
• Publication Date: 2020-10-01
• Subjects: Suicide -- intervention -- qualitative; Psychopharmacology -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Scandinavia -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2020.1759683
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0803-9488

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Few qualitative studies have focused on clinicians' perspectives regarding treatment of suicidal people. Despite limited evidence and imperfect risk-assessment tools, the psychosocial therapy at the Danish suicide prevention clinics has been linked to reductions in numbers of repeated self-harm, deaths by suicide, and other causes. This merits an investigation into how clinicians describe their practice. Methods: Using a qualitative design, 10 semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed to describe the psychosocial therapy. Results: The practices that the therapists described could be categorized along four dichotomous continuums. These illustrated dilemmas encountered during treatment of suicidal patients: 1) intuitive vs. specific risk assessment, 2) meaningful vs. formal, 3) patient-oriented vs. therapist-oriented and 4) direct vs. indirect approach to suicide prevention. Conclusions: Treatment in the Danish Suicide Prevention Clinics is characterized by methodological flexibility and diversity and with an emphasis on a patient-oriented approach. Furthermore, clinicians balance knowledge available by switching between a direct and an indirect approach according to the perceived suicide risk. If suicide risk was perceived as high, they would administer a direct approach and if low, an indirect approach. Finally, there seems to be differences as to how effective therapeutic methodologies work in the practice of suicide prevention.