Suicidality in chronic pain: assessment and management

By reading this article you should be able to: •Describe the epidemiology, risk factors and protective factors for suicidality. •Explain the need for individualised assessment of risk. •Discuss the management strategies based on this assessment. Mahindra Chincholkar MD FRCA FFPMRCA is the Clinical director of the Manchester and Salford Pain Centre. He is an associate editor of BJA Education and council member of the British Pain Society. His major clinical interests are neuromodulation for chronic pain and neuropathic pain. Sarah Blackshaw ClinPsyD is a principal clinical psychologist within the health psychology team at Salford Royal Hospital. Her main clinical interest is the use of cognitive behavioural therapy in different health conditions including chronic pain, chronic fatigue/ME, diabetes, cancer, heart conditions, HIV and sexual health.