Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41859679›Full record

ArticleEClinicalMedicine2026

Effectiveness of brief interventions and contacts after suicide attempt: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Stephanie Homan, Marta Anna Marciniak, Sofia Michel, Anna-Marie Bertram, Charlotta Rühlmann, Annamária Pethő, Lara Kirchhofer, Leonie Biele, Robin Segerer, Philipp Homan and 3 more

Abstract read
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Article in EClinicalMedicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–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.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
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

13 authors.

Stephanie HomanDepartment of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Clinic Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Marta Anna MarciniakDepartment of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Clinic Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Sofia MichelDepartment of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Clinic Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Anna-Marie BertramDepartment of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Charlotta RühlmannDepartment of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Clinic Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Annamária PethőDepartment of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Clinic Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Lara KirchhoferExperimental Psychopathology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Leonie BieleExperimental Psychopathology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Robin SegererDepartment of Psychology, Developmental and Personality Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Philipp HomanDepartment of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Clinic Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Sebastian OlbrichDepartment of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Clinic Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Rory C O'ConnorSuicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory, School of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Birgit KleimDepartment of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Clinic Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Following a suicide attempt, only a third of people receive outpatient treatment, highlighting the need for low-threshold brief interventions and contacts (BICs). We aimed to examine the effectiveness of BICs. Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, PsycInfo, Web of Science, and ProQuest, and gray literature from inception to June 18, 2025, for randomized controlled trials of BIC in adults following a suicide attempt. Studies were included if they investigated the effectiveness of BICs compared with control for adults (aged 18-65) after a suicide attempt, intended to reduce suicide re-attempts, suicidal ideation, self-harm, non-suicidal self-injury, or linkage to mental health (MH) services. The main outcomes included suicide re-attempts, self-harm, suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), and linkage to MH services. We extracted raw frequency counts and means/SDs for use in random-effects meta-analyses of odds ratios and standardized mean differences, respectively. Quality of the evidence was assessed with RoB 2 and GRADE. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42022271143. Findings: Thirty-six trials (9552 participants; 1993-2025) were included, with 33 trials eligible for meta-analysis. Suicide re-attempts were significantly reduced after BICs compared with control (moderate-certainty evidence; OR = 0.72, 95% CI [0.54, 0.95]; I Interpretation: Our findings have important implications for clinical practice and suicide prevention. Even when delivered in a single session, BICs can effectively reduce the recurrence of suicide attempts and may also decrease suicidal thoughts. Although conclusions for self-harm recurrence and linkage to MH services were limited, these interventions can be considered a practical and potentially essential element of suicide prevention strategies. Further high-quality trials are needed to confirm effects across additional outcomes and populations. Funding: The study was supported by funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation (501100001711-205913); the EMDO Foundation of the University of Zurich; the HOLCIM enterprise for the Promotion of Scientific Further Education.

Indexed as

Brief interventions and contactsMeta-analysisPsychosocial interventionRandomized controlled trialsSuicide attempt

Identifiers

PMID41859679
PMCPMC12996265

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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.