The use of consultation in the treatment of suicidal patients.

Consultation is acknowledged to be a useful aid in the treatment of the suicidal patient. Consultation is, however, a deviation from the therapeutic framework, and there are potential dangers. A case example is used to illustrate the various phases of the consultation process--from the decision to consult, the way the consultation is arranged, the type of consultation, and the results of the consultation on the patient-therapist relationship. A brief examination of the intrapsychic and interpersonal dynamics of the suicidal patient highlights the patient's vulnerability to seeing the deviation in technique as a disruption. A preferred form of consultation for these situations is suggested.