Half in Love with Death: Managing the Chronically Suicidal Patient

This book deals with an important and not uncommon clinical problem for psychotherapists and other mental health professionals that is stressful for those who treat these patients. Yet there has been little formal research on this problem, and the clinical literature is also limited. There have been only a few comprehensive articles on chronic suicidality and there are hardly any recent books. This book will develop a broad biopsychosocial perspective on chronic suicidality that provides a framework for understanding the sources of chronic suicidality, tolerating it while working on recovery, and managing cases that promotes autonomy and psychosocial functioning. The book will offer guidelines for the management of these patients that protect therapy and that avoid less helpful interventions such as repeated hospitalization and polypharmacy.