We examine the interrelations among clinicians' judgment of patients' suicide 
risk, clinicians' emotional responses, and standard risk factors in the 
short-term prediction of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Psychiatric 
outpatients (n = 153) with a lifetime history of suicide ideation/attempt and 
their treating clinicians (n = 67) were evaluated at intake. Clinicians 
completed a standard suicide risk instrument (modified SAD PERSONS scale), a 
10-point Likert scale assessment of judgment of patient suicide risk (Clinician 
Prediction Scale), and a measure of their emotional responses to the patient 
(Therapist Response Questionnaire-Suicide Form). The Columbia Suicide Severity 
Rating Scale and the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation were administered at a 
one-month follow-up assessment (n = 114, 74.5%). Clinician judgment of risk 
significantly predicted suicidal thoughts and behaviors at follow-up. Both the 
standard suicide risk instrument and clinician emotional responses contributed 
independently to the clinician assessment of risk, which, in turn, mediated 
their relationships with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Our findings validate 
the importance of clinical judgment in assessing suicide risk. Clinical judgment 
appears to be informed both by concrete risk factors and clinicians' emotional 
responses to suicidal patients, highlighting emotional awareness as a promising 
area for research and training.