A Review of Non-Pharmacologic Treatments for Adults Experiencing Suicidality

Background: Suicidality is a global health crisis effecting hundreds of thousands of people every year. Despite this, there remains mixed data on the best interventions to prescribe to effectively address this diagnosis. This literature review serves to examine the most recent controlled trials regarding suicidality treatment. Purpose: There is mixed data on best interventions for adults experiencing suicidality. We seek to answer: In adults experiencing suicidality, what non-pharmacologic interventions have been shown to improve patient well-being? Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using Trip DataBase and PubMed using the search terms “Collaborative Management of Suicidality,” “Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Suicide,” “Cognitive Therapy Suicide,” “ASSIP,” “Non-pharmacologic Suicide Prevention,” “Non-pharmacologic Suicide Treatment,” “ED-SAFE,” “Crisis Response Planning,” and “Brief Contact Interventions.” Conclusions: CAMS, DBT, CBT, and ASSIP all resulted in decreased suicidal ideation, suicidal attempts, depression, and hopelessness but require more research into increasing feasibility for expanding beyond outpatient settings. ED-SAFE and Project Life Force have promising initial studies but require more research to set a foundation. Brief contact intervention through telephone follow-up and app assisted treatment did not have significant impacts on patient well-being