Alberto Forte1,2, Giuseppe Sarli1, Lorenzo Polidori1, David Lester3, Maurizio Pompili4. 1. Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Roma, 00185 Roma, Italy. 2. Department of Psychiatry and Substance Abuse, ASL Roma5, 00015 Rome, Italy. 3. Psychology Program, Stockton University, Galloway, NJ 08205, USA. 4. Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Abstract
Background and objectives: Suicide in adolescents represents a major public health concern. To date, a growing number of suicide preventive strategies based on the use of new technologies are emerging. We aimed to provide an overview of the present literature on the use of new technologies in adolescent suicide prevention. Materials and methods: An electronic search was run using the following keywords: Technology OR Technologies OR APP OR Application OR mobile application) AND (Adolescent OR youth OR puberty) AND (Suicid* OR Self-harm OR self-destruction). Inclusion criteria were: English language, published in a peer-reviewed journal, suicide prevention with the use of new technologies among adolescents. Results: Our search strategy yielded a total of 12 studies on the use of telemedicine, 7 on mobile applications, and 3 on language detection. We also found heterogeneity regarding the study design: 3 are randomized controlled trials (RCT), 13 are open-label single group trials, 2 are randomized studies, and 1 is a cross-sectional study. Telemedicine was the most adopted tool, especially web-based approaches. Mobile applications mostly focused on screening of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation, and for clinical monitoring through the use of text messages. Although telepsychiatry and mobile applications can provide a fast and safe tool, supporting and preceding a face-to-face clinical assessment, only a few studies demonstrated efficacy in preventing suicide among adolescents through the use of these interventions. Some studies suggested algorithms able to recognize people at risk of suicide from the exploration of the language on social media posts. Conclusions: New technologies were found to be well accepted and tolerated supports for suicide prevention in adolescents. However, to date, few data support the use of such interventions in clinical practice and preventive strategies. Further studies are needed to test their efficacy in suicide prevention among adolescents and young adults.
Background and objectives: Suicide in adolescents represents a major public health concern. To date, a growing number of suicide preventive strategies based on the use of new technologies are emerging. We aimed to provide an overview of the present literature on the use of new technologies in adolescent suicide prevention. Materials and methods: An electronic search was run using the following keywords: Technology OR Technologies OR APP OR Application OR mobile application) AND (Adolescent OR youth OR puberty) AND (Suicid* OR Self-harm OR self-destruction). Inclusion criteria were: English language, published in a peer-reviewed journal, suicide prevention with the use of new technologies among adolescents. Results: Our search strategy yielded a total of 12 studies on the use of telemedicine, 7 on mobile applications, and 3 on language detection. We also found heterogeneity regarding the study design: 3 are randomized controlled trials (RCT), 13 are open-label single group trials, 2 are randomized studies, and 1 is a cross-sectional study. Telemedicine was the most adopted tool, especially web-based approaches. Mobile applications mostly focused on screening of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation, and for clinical monitoring through the use of text messages. Although telepsychiatry and mobile applications can provide a fast and safe tool, supporting and preceding a face-to-face clinical assessment, only a few studies demonstrated efficacy in preventing suicide among adolescents through the use of these interventions. Some studies suggested algorithms able to recognize people at risk of suicide from the exploration of the language on social media posts. Conclusions: New technologies were found to be well accepted and tolerated supports for suicide prevention in adolescents. However, to date, few data support the use of such interventions in clinical practice and preventive strategies. Further studies are needed to test their efficacy in suicide prevention among adolescents and young adults.
Authors: Jo Robinson; Sarah Hetrick; Georgina Cox; Sarah Bendall; Hok Pan Yuen; Alison Yung; Jane Pirkis Journal: Early Interv Psychiatry Date: 2014-03-31 Impact factor: 2.732
Authors: Joseph C Franklin; Kathryn R Fox; Christopher R Franklin; Evan M Kleiman; Jessica D Ribeiro; Adam C Jaroszewski; Jill M Hooley; Matthew K Nock Journal: J Consult Clin Psychol Date: 2016-03-28
Authors: Benjamin Dickter; Eduardo L Bunge; Lisa M Brown; Yan Leykin; Erin E Soares; Benjamin Van Voorhees; Monika Marko-Holguin; Tracy R G Gladstone Journal: Mhealth Date: 2019-05-07
Authors: Sarah Elisabeth Hetrick; Jo Robinson; Eloise Burge; Ryan Blandon; Bianca Mobilio; Simon M Rice; Magenta B Simmons; Mario Alvarez-Jimenez; Simon Goodrich; Christopher G Davey Journal: JMIR Ment Health Date: 2018-01-23
Authors: Signe Dunker Svendsen; Anne Sofie Aggestrup; Lasse Benn Nørregaard; Philip Løventoft; Anne Præstegaard; Konstantin V Danilenko; Mads Frost; Ulla Knorr; Ida Hageman; Lars Vedel Kessing; Klaus Martiny Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2019-04-25 Impact factor: 3.630
Authors: Michal Ptaszynski; Monika Zasko-Zielinska; Michal Marcinczuk; Gniewosz Leliwa; Marcin Fortuna; Kamil Soliwoda; Ida Dziublewska; Olimpia Hubert; Pawel Skrzek; Jan Piesiewicz; Paula Karbowska; Maria Dowgiallo; Juuso Eronen; Patrycja Tempska; Maciej Brochocki; Marek Godny; Michal Wroczynski Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-11-09 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Silvana Maselli; Antonio Del Casale; Elena Paoli; Maurizio Pompili; Sergio Garbarino Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-05-12 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Tania Pearce; Myfanwy Maple; Sarah Wayland; Kathy McKay; Alan Woodward; Anna Brooks; Anthony Shakeshaft Journal: Health Res Policy Syst Date: 2022-04-14