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Cited by 99Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesMental Health via WritingAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

What’s the Harm in Asking About Suicidal Ideation?

Open access
Mathias, Charles W., Michael Furr, R., Sheftall, Arielle H., Hill‐Kapturczak, Nathalie, Crum, Paige, Dougherty, Donald M.·2012·Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior
DOI 10.1111/j.1943-278x.2012.0095.xPMC PMC3597074
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Abstract

Both researchers and oversight committees share concerns about patient safety in the study‐related assessment of suicidality. However, concern about assessing suicidal thoughts can be a barrier to the development of empirical evidence that informs research on how to safely conduct these assessments. A question has been raised if asking about suicidal thoughts can result in iatrogenic increases of such thoughts, especially among at‐risk samples. The current study repeatedly tested suicidal ideation at 6‐month intervals for up to 2‐years. Suicidal ideation was measured with the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire Junior, and administered to adolescents who had previously received inpatient psychiatric care. Change in suicidal ideation was tested using several analytic techniques, each of which pointed to a significant decline in suicidal ideation in the context of repeated assessment. This and previous study outcomes suggest that asking an at‐risk population about suicidal ideation is not associated with subsequent increases in suicidal ideation.

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  • Mathias and colleagues found that suicidal ideation declined compared with baseline after repeated assessments using the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire-Junior in a population at risk; this suggests that screening is safe and may be helpful to teens struggling with suicidal ideation.

    “Mathias and colleagues actually found that suicidal ideation declined compared with baseline after repeated assessments using the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire-Junior in a population at risk; this suggests that screening is safe and may be helpful to teens struggling with suicidal ideation.”

    From Suicide in young people: screening, risk assessment, and intervention (2023) · cites this paper as [92]

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  • Several studies have refuted the iatrogenic risk myth, that asking questions about suicide can cause harm.

    “Several studies have refuted this iatrogenic risk myth, that asking questions about suicide can cause harm.”

    From Suicide in young people: screening, risk assessment, and intervention (2023) · cites this paper as [92]

    The Discussion conclusion says that the few studies testing this question suggest asking about suicidal thoughts is not associated with increased suicidal ideation. But the paper does not say they have refuted all possible harm: it describes the evidence as limited and says causal relationships cannot feasibly be tested in at-risk populations. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • Prior studies of suicide-risk screening have primarily focused on high school students and adolescents who have received in-patient psychiatric care, leaving a gap in understanding effects on younger children and those without psychiatric chief complaints.

    “However, these studies have primarily focused on high school students11,14 and adolescents who have received in-patient psychiatric care,15 leaving a gap in our understanding of the effects of suicide-risk screening on younger children and those without psychiatric chief complaints.”

    From Asking Preadolescents About Suicide Is Not Associated With Increased Suicidal Thoughts (2026) · cites this paper as [15]

  • Mathias et al. (2012) found that adolescents aged 12-17 who had previously received in-patient psychiatric care and had higher levels of suicidality at the start demonstrated larger reductions in suicidal ideation by the final assessment (p<0.0001).

    “Participants who had higher levels of suicidality at the start of the study demonstrated larger reductions in suicidal ideation by the fi nal assessment ( p <0.0001).”

    From Does asking about suicide and related behaviours induce suicidal ideation? What is the evidence? (2014) · cites this paper as Mathias et al. (2012)

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Authors
Mathias, C. W., Michael Furr, R., Sheftall, A. H., Hill‐Kapturczak, N., Crum, P., & Dougherty, D. M.
Affiliations
The University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center (US)
ORCID
Venue
Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2012-04-30
Volume
42
Issue
3
Pages
341-351
ISSN
  • 0363-0234 (ISSN-L)
  • 1943-278X
DOI
10.1111/j.1943-278x.2012.0095.x
PMC
PMC3597074
OpenAlex
W2145180126
Cited by
99
References
20
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 2
FWCI
6.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH077684)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health via Writing
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
suicidal ideation, iatrogenic disease, suicide risk assessment, repeated assessment, adolescents, psychiatric inpatient care, patient safety
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Female, Humans, Male, Medical History Taking, Surveys and Questionnaires, Texas, Suicidal Ideation, Patient Safety

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