Tijdschrift voor Psychiatrie 50 (2008) 10, 667 - 671
Short report
The no-suicide contract: a risky ritual
summary
In spite of former research the preventive value of the no-suicide contract is still uncertain. Making up a no-suicide contract should be considered as a risky ritual because there is a chance for underestimation of the actual risk. Less risky alternatives are: systematic risk assessment, the commitment to treatment statement and the delay or reconsideration agreement.