Interventions of choice for the prevention and treatment of suicidal behaviours: An umbrella review.
Teresa Sufrate-Sorzano, Iván Santolalla-Arnedo, María Elena Garrote-Cámara and 7 others
PMID 37218123WHAT IT FOUND
Cognitive behavioural therapy and dialectical behavioural therapy are the most effective interventions for reducing suicide risk.
Brief contact follow-up and treating depression also work. No single intervention is superior; comprehensive care combining therapy, medication, and safety planning is required.
Key findings
01Cognitive behavioural therapy reduces the risk of a new suicide attempt by 50% compared to usual treatment.
02Dialectical behavioural therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy are the most widely used and effective psychotherapeutic interventions for patients with suicidal ideation or past attempts.
03Brief contact interventions via phone, email, or mail successfully reduce the frequency of repeated self-harm.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The review covers literature from 2011 to 2020, so newer interventions or evidence may be missing. Only English and Spanish reviews were included, potentially excluding relevant global evidence. A meta-analysis was not possible due to the heterogeneity of methodologies in the included reviews, so effect sizes could not be pooled statistically. Evidence for pharmacological interventions like lithium was inconsistent across reviews. The study excluded specific populations such as prisoners, military personnel, and veterans, so findings may not apply to these groups.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that any single intervention, such as CBT or medication, is sufficient on its own. The evidence indicates that no specific intervention stands out for superior efficacy over others, and comprehensive management combining therapy, medication, and active follow-up is required. Additionally, do not recommend mobile apps or online platforms without first reviewing them for safety, as harmful content and inducers of suicidal behaviour have been identified.