Treatment for Suicide-related Thoughts and Behaviors

Note: This content is derived from the 2024 VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Patients at Risk for Suicide. For the latest clinical practice guideline for this condition, visit Suicide Risk Clinical Support Tools

No treatment was associated with a “strong for” recommendation based on the evidence. The only non-pharmacologic treatment with “weak for” recommendation for suicide attempt or suicide ideation was cognitive behavioral therapy-based psychotherapy. Pharmacologic treatments with “weak for” recommendations included clozapine to reduce the risk of suicide attempts for patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and ketamine infusion for short-term reduction in suicidal ideation.

We have created some suicide risk clinical support tools for providers, patients, families, and military leaders based on the guidance in the CPG.