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Meta-Analysis
. 2018 Aug 16:92:e201808049.

[Neuroticism and suicidal thoughts: a meta-analytic study]

[Article in Spanish]
Ana María García Herrero  1 , Julio Sánchez-Meca  2 , Francisco Javier Álvarez Muñoz  3 , María Rubio-Aparicio  2 , Fernando Navarro-Mateu  2   4
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

[Neuroticism and suicidal thoughts: a meta-analytic study]

[Article in Spanish]
Ana María García Herrero et al. Rev Esp Salud Publica. .

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Background: There are conflicting results on the relationship between neuroticism and suicidal ideation in community population. The objectives of this study were to estimate the magnitude and direction of the association between neuroticism and suicide ideation, and to analyze the influence of moderator variables on the effect size.

Methods: A systematic review and a meta-analysis were carried out. The search for studies was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, IME, Lilacs, CINAHL, and EMBASE, until January 2015. A manual search was also carried out and main researchers were contacted. The inclusion criteria were: (a) studies of the association between neuroticism and suicidal ideation; (b) observational and descriptive studies; (c) studies carried out with community population over 18 years; (d) in any geographic region; and (e) written in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese or Italian. The random-effects model was applied to obtain the mean effect size and to explore moderators.

Results: Thirteen articles focused on the association between neuroticism and suicide ideation were included in the meta-analysis. The mean effect size was r+ = 0.446 (IC 95%: 0.266-0.595). Publication bias was discarded as a threat against the validity of the results. A predictive model was stablished with two moderator variables: gender and type of self-report to measure neuroticism.

Conclusions: Neuroticism can be considered as a risk factor for suicide ideation. This result is important to prevent both suicidal ideation and suicide behavior.

Objetivo: Existen resultados discrepantes sobre la relación existente entre neuroticismo e ideas suicidas en población comunitaria. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron estimar la magnitud y dirección de la asociación entre neuroticismo e ideas suicidas, así como analizar la influencia de posibles variables moderadoras sobre el tamaño del efecto.

Metodos: Se llevó a cabo una revisión sistemática y meta-análisis. La búsqueda de estudios se realizó en PubMed/MEDLINE, IME, Lilacs, CINAHL y EMBASE, siendo el límite temporal hasta enero de 2015. También se hizo una búsqueda manual y se contactó con los autores principales para localizar estudios. Los criterios de inclusión fueron: (a) estudios que analizaran la relación neuroticismo e ideación suicida; (b) estudios observacionales y descriptivos; (c) estudios realizados con población comunitaria mayor de 18 años; (d) en cualquier región geográfica; y (e) escritos en inglés, español, francés, portugués o italiano. Se utilizó el modelo de efectos aleatorios para la obtención del tamaño del efecto y el análisis de posibles variables moderadoras.

Resultados: 13 artículos referidos a la relación entre neuroticismo e ideación suicida se incluyeron en el meta-análisis. El tamaño del efecto medio fue r+ = 0,446 (IC 95%: 0,266-0,595). Se descartó la presencia de sesgo de publicación como una amenaza contra la validez de los resultados. Se estableció un modelo predictivo con dos variables moderadoras: sexo y tipo de autoinforme para medir neuroticismo.

Conclusiones: El neuroticismo puede considerarse un factor de riesgo para presentar ideas suicidas. Este resultado es importante de cara a la prevención del fenómeno suicida.

Keywords: Meta-analysis; Neuroticism; Review, Systematic; Spain; Suicide; Suicide ideation; Systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

Los autores declaran la no existencia de conflictos de interés.

Figures

Figura 1
Figura 1. Diagrama de flujo del proceso de selección de los estudios
Figura 2
Figura 2. Forest plot del meta-análisis de la asociación entre neuroticismo e ideas suicidas
Figura 3
Figura 3. Funnel plot con los 15 coeficientes de correlación de Pearson (transformados a Z de Fisher) del meta-análisis de la asociación entre neuroticismo e ideas suicidas
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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