Life events and suicidal ideation and behavior: A systematic review

• Published in: Clinical psychology review 2014-04, Vol.34 (3), p.181-192
• Main Authors: Liu, Richard T., Miller, Ivan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Humans; Life Change Events; Positive life events; Risk Factors; Self-harm; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Stressful life events; Suicidal Ideation; Suicide; Suicide - psychology; Suicide, Attempted - psychology
• ISSN: 0272-7358; 1873-7811
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2014.01.006

Despite the sustained theoretical and empirical interest over the past 40years in the association between life events and suicidal ideation and behavior, the literature in this area has yet to be systematically reviewed. The current article provides a comprehensive review of the empirical literature pertaining to life events in relation to at least one aspect of suicidal ideation and behavior (i.e., suicidal ideation, plans, attempts, degree of suicidal intent, medical severity of attempt, repeat versus first lifetime attempt status, and death by suicide). A total of 95 articles meeting inclusion criteria were identified by a literature search using Medline and PsycINFO. Evidence for an association between negative life events and suicidal ideation and behavior was generally consistent, with strongest support found for more severe than with less severe forms of suicidal ideation and behavior. Support for an inverse relation between positive events and suicidal ideation and behavior was generally lacking. Although there is general support for life stressors as a risk factor for suicidal ideation and behavior, interpretation of these findings is constrained by methodological limitations prevalent in much of the literature, particularly in the case of suicidal ideation and suicide plans. Recommendations for future research are provided. •Provides a systematic review of life events and suicidal ideation and behavior•The relation with stressors was stronger for severe forms of ideation and behavior.•The relation with positive events was weak for suicidal ideation and behavior.•Several important methodological limitations characterize much of the literature.