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Investigating dynamics and predictors of suicidal behaviors using ambulatory assessment

Dynamik und Prädiktoren suizidaler Verhaltensweisen: eine Übersicht zu Befunden aus Studien mit ambulanten Assessments

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Summary

Ambulatory assessment studies may provide important insights in the etiology of suicidal behaviors, because suicidal behaviors and their risk factors fluctuate over time.

The review aims at (1) evaluating the current state of research and (2) summarizing main findings in this field. Reviewed studies (N = 4) were heterogeneous. Up to 74 % of participants reported suicidal ideation during ambulatory assessment sampling. Suicidal ideation was predicted by intensity and instability of negative affective states (e.g., worry, sadness). Ambulatory assessment studies seem a promising approach to uncover the dynamic course of suicidal ideation and its risk factors in clinically relevant time frames (i.e., real-time).

Zusammenfassung

Studien mit ambulanten Assessments können wichtige Einblicke in die Ätiologie suizidaler Verhaltensweisen ermöglichen, da Suizidalität und assoziierte Risikofaktoren zeitlich fluktuierend auftreten.

Der Übersichtsartikel soll 1) die aktuelle Studienlage bewerten und 2) relevante Befunde aus vorhandenen Studien zusammenfassen. Die eingeschlossenen Studien (N = 4) waren heterogen. Bis zu 74 % der Studienteilnehmer berichteten Suizidgedanken während des ambulanten Assessments. Suizidgedanken wurden durch die Intensität und Instabilität negativer affektiver Zustände (z. B. Sorge, Traurigkeit) vorhergesagt. Studien, die diese vielversprechende Methode anwenden, könnten den dynamischen Verlauf von Suizidgedanken und seiner Risikofaktoren in klinisch relevanten Zeitfenstern (d. h. in Echtzeit) abbilden.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Leipzig University, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, 04103, Leipzig, Germany

    Lena Spangenberg & Heide Glaesmer

  2. Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital of RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

    Thomas Forkmann

Authors
  1. Lena Spangenberg
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  2. Thomas Forkmann
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  3. Heide Glaesmer
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Correspondence to Lena Spangenberg.

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Spangenberg, L., Forkmann, T. & Glaesmer, H. Investigating dynamics and predictors of suicidal behaviors using ambulatory assessment. Neuropsychiatr 29, 139–143 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40211-015-0142-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40211-015-0142-1

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