Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39998659›Full record

SynthesisJournal of neurology2025

Elevated suicide risk in individuals with epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Ali Rafati, Yeganeh Pasebani, Churl-Su Kwon

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Ali Rafati *Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Yeganeh Pasebani *Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Churl-Su KwonGertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. ck3112@cumc.columbia.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9904-2240

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveSuicide is among the top 10 leading causes of death. Epilepsy is associated with increased diagnoses of psychiatric conditions. Approximately 5% of deaths in people with epilepsy (PwE) are caused by suicide. We aim to compare the suicide incidence in PwE vs. people without epilepsy.

methodsA systematic review was performed looking at suicide incidence among PwE compared to persons without epilepsy. The reporting guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses standards were followed in this study. The search included records until February 2024 in Ovid® MEDLINE, Embase®, and PsycINFO. Abstracts were screened in duplicate and extracted using standard proforma. Data were recorded on the incidence of suicide ideation, attempt, or completed suicide in PwE compared to persons without epilepsy. Meta-analyses were performed along with descriptive analyses.

resultsOut of a total of 7,371 records identified from the systematic search, 13 met the eligibility criteria. Meta-analysis showed a significantly higher incidence proportion of suicide ideation in PwE than those without epilepsy (risk ratio [RR]: 2.06, 95% CI 1.47-2.89). For suicide attempts, incidence proportion (RR: 3.62, 95% CI 2.88-4.55), incidence rate (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 4.94, 95% CI 4.44-5.50) and hazard (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 2.32, 95% CI 2.17-2.48) were all significantly higher in PwE vs. people without epilepsy. Lastly, incidence proportion (RR: 2.39, 95% CI 1.28-4.47), incidence rate (IRR: 2.26, 95% CI 2.13-2.40), and hazard (adjusted HR: 2.50, 95% CI 1.99-3.16) of completed suicide were all significantly higher in PwE than those without epilepsy. SIGNIFICANCE: The incidence of suicide ideation, suicide attempt, and completed suicide were significantly higher in PwE compared to people without epilepsy. Comprehensive support systems to educate, diagnose, and manage epilepsy and concurrent psychiatric conditions in PwE are highly suggested.

Indexed as

EpilepsySuicidal IdeationSuicideHumansIncidenceCompleted suicideEpilepsyIncidenceRiskSuicidal ideationSuicide attempt

Identifiers

PMID39998659

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.