Descriptive epidemiology of suicide risk in a French general medicine health care system

Objective: Suicide prevention certainly includes a better knowledge of suicide risk in primary care. A number of international publications have shown interest in assessing this risk, but mostly through specific consultant populations: young patients, old patients, anhedonic, depressive, etc. Our study analyses suicide risk prevalence in patients consulting in general medicine for any somatic or psychiatric reason, their pathology or their age. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted with adult patients (827 subjects included) who were consulting a French generalist doctor panel randomly selected. They filled a validated self-questionnaire (aRSD) assessing their suicide risk in the 15 preceding days and providing professional and personal data. Results: The totally operable 757 files (483 female; 274 male) show that close to a quarter of consultants (24.3%) presents with a positive suicide risk in the 15 days preceding their consultation and 6.3%, reveal a severe risk (aRSD >= 7) with ideas and impulses to commit the act. When the reason to consult is psychiatric, 64.6% of these consultants have aRSD positive. One time out of two, the risk is even severe. Conclusions: This data shows how important the suicide risk prevalence is in general medicine. It confirms the main role played by primary care patricians in acting to prevent suicide risk. This data also shows the contribution represented by a self-questionnaire that would rapidly assess the suicide intent while screening, it.