A Computer Interview for Suicide-Risk Prediction

To establish the feasibility of using computers to interview suicidal patients, the authors developed a computer program, a mathematical prediction model, and a "subjective" data base; computer interviews were then administered to 22 patients. The authors obtained a summary of the clinical state of each patient as well as a prediction of whether he would make a suicide attempt or not. They found that the patients preferred the computer interview to talking to a physician. In a separate retrospective study, the computer was more accurate than clinicians in predicting suicide attempts.