IDEAS
Also written as: IDEAS — Ideation, Depression, Ethanol/drugs, Previous Attempts, Social Support
Mnemonic for assessing suicide risk factors: Ideation, Depression, Ethanol/drugs, Previous Attempts, Social Support.
Full Definition
IDEAS is a clinical mnemonic used during suicide risk assessments to ensure comprehensive evaluation of key risk factors. The acronym stands for Ideation (suicidal thoughts and plans), Depression (mood symptoms and severity), Ethanol/drugs (substance use patterns), Previous Attempts (history of self-harm), and Social Support (protective factors and isolation). This systematic approach helps clinicians document risk factors consistently and avoid overlooking critical assessment areas. While not a formal scoring instrument, IDEAS provides a structured framework for clinical decision-making regarding safety planning and level of care determinations.
Usage
Usage note: Used as a memory aid rather than a formal assessment scale.
In Context
- "The emergency department used the IDEAS framework to assess suicide risk before discharge planning." — Emergency psychiatry protocol
- "Documentation should address all IDEAS components when conducting lethality assessments." — Clinical documentation standards