Implicit Cognition Tests for the Assessment of Suicide Risk: a Systematic Review

Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2022 Feb;24(2):141-159. doi: 10.1007/s11920-022-01316-5. Epub 2022 Feb 12.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Suicide risk assessment is a challenge in clinical practice. Implicit measures may present with advantages with respect to explicit methods, and therefore may be useful for the assessment of suicide risk. We conducted a systematic review of 2 databases (PubMed and EMBASE) about implicit tests that measure suicide risk to explore their validity and reliability.

Recent findings: Initial research revealed 321 articles. After the selection process, 31 articles were included in the review. The most death-related implicit cognition test used was the Death/Suicide Implicit association test (D/S IAT), followed by the Suicide Stroop Task. The Suicide Affect Misattribution Procedure (S-AMP) and the Death version of the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (D-IRAP) were also used. We found that the measures reviewed were generally valid for the assessment of past and future suicidal thoughts and behaviors, with statistically significant results regarding retrospective and prospective associations.

Keywords: Assessment; Cognition; Implicit; Suicide; Suicide attempt; Suicide ideation.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Systematic Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cognition
  • Humans
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment / methods
  • Suicidal Ideation
  • Suicide*
  • Suicide, Attempted*