As the applications for artificial intelligence (AI) continue to be investigated, it seems that there may well be scope for the technology to be leveraged by doctors in identifying patients at risk of suicide, with the potential to improve suicide prevention strategies in clinical settings.
New research from Vanderbilt University Medical Centre looked at two different approaches that could prompt doctors in neurology clinics to screen patients for suicide risks during regular clinic visits: automatic pop-up alerts that interrupted workflow and a more passive system where risk information was displayed in the patient’s electronic chart.
The interruptive alert system was found to be far more effective, with doctors carrying out risk assessments in connection with 42 per cent of alerts, compared to four per cent with the passive way of working.
This model analyses routine data from health records to calculate 30-day risks of suicide attempts. In previous prospective tests, where records were flagged but no alerts sent out, it proved to be effective at identifying those at high risk, with one in 23 people flagged up later reporting suicide ideation.
Lead author of the study Dr Colin Walsh said: “Most people who die by suicide have seen a healthcare provider in the year before their death, often for reasons unrelated to mental health. But universal screening isn’t practical in every setting. We developed [the system] to help identify high-risk patients and prompt focused screening conversations.”
One potential issue with the AI method is alert fatigue, where doctors find themselves overwhelmed with frequent automated notifications.
Dr Walsh went on to note that the effectiveness of these alerts would need to be balanced by healthcare systems against potential downsides. However, the results of this study indicate that automated risk detection, along with well-designed alerts, could help identify more people in need of suicide prevention services.
For further information, contact:
Paul Higham
Suicide Bereavement UK
Tel: 01706 827359
Mobile: 07850 710555
Email: paul.higham@suicidebereavementuk.com