Depressed patients with a history of suicide attempts tend to
suffer from a more chronic and severe form of depression and
respond more poorly to antidepressant treatment (7). Moreover,
a previous suicide attempt is a strong predictor of future attempts
and completed suicides (8). Therefore, more intensive and longer-term treatment including focused and ongoing clinical attention to suicide risk is required for patients with a history of previous suicide attempts (7). Suicidal behavior represents a unique
dimension of psychopathology. Therefore, documentation of
suicidal behavior as a separate part of a multiaxial diagnosis or
as a highlighted section of the medical record may draw sustained clinical attention to, and lead to specialized treatment
plans for, vulnerable patients (9).