The subacute hospital treatment of the borderline patient: III. Management of suicidal crisis by family intervention.

A family approach to suicidal crises in hospitalized borderline patients is described. The approach is aimed not only at the acute crises, but at the likelihood that repetitive, panic-inducing suicidal episodes provoke shame-producing over-regulation in the short run or exhaustion of support systems (family and treatment team) in the long run. An emergency family session with a hospitalized patient in acute suicidal crisis is presented. Subacute hospital treatment must respond to these crises mindful of long-term as well as acute risks. Subacute hospitalization allows for family intervention to buttress support systems for the long term task of caring for the suicidal borderline patient.