Citation

Coppersmith DDL, Fortgang RG, Kleiman EM, Millner AJ, Yeager AL, Mair P, Nock MK. Br. J. Psychiatry 2022; 220(1): 41-43.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Royal College of Psychiatry)

DOI

10.1192/bjp.2021.97

PMID

35045901

Abstract

Researchers, clinicians and patients are increasingly using real-time monitoring methods to understand and predict suicidal thoughts and behaviours. These methods involve frequently assessing suicidal thoughts, but it is not known whether asking about suicide repeatedly is iatrogenic. We tested two questions about this approach: (a) does repeatedly assessing suicidal thinking over short periods of time increase suicidal thinking, and (b) is more frequent assessment of suicidal thinking associated with more severe suicidal thinking? In a real-time monitoring study (n = 101 participants, n = 12 793 surveys), we found no evidence to support the notion that repeated assessment of suicidal thoughts is iatrogenic.

Language: en

Keywords

Suicide; suicidal ideation; self-harm; ecological momentary assessment; statistical methodology