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. 2022 May 18:44:e20210316.
doi: 10.47626/2237-6089-2021-0316.

The impact of mindfulness on suicidal behavior: a systematic review

Kyara Rodrigues de Aguiar  1 , Júlia Bierhals Bilhalva  2 , Mariana Dias Cabelleira  2 , Giovanna Oliveira Guimarães  2 , Thiago Madureira  3 , Arela Agako  4 , Marília Silva de Souza  2 , Luciano Dias de Mattos Souza  2
Affiliations

The impact of mindfulness on suicidal behavior: a systematic review

Kyara Rodrigues de Aguiar et al. Trends Psychiatry Psychother. .

Abstract

Introduction: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) have been growing progressively as treatment options in the field of mental health. Aim: To assess the impact of mindfulness-based interventions for reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Methods: A systematic review was performed in December 2020 using PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, SciELO, Pepsic, and LILACS databases with no year restrictions. The search strategy included the terms ('mindfulness' OR 'mindfulness-based') AND ('suicide' OR 'suicidal' OR 'suicide risk' OR 'suicide attempt' OR 'suicide ideation' OR 'suicide behavior'). The protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), CRD42020219514.

Results: A total of 14 studies met all inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Most of the studies presented Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy as the MBI assessed (n=10). An emerging and rapidly growing literature on MBI presents promising results in reduction of suicide risk, particularly in patients with MDD. Four studies assessing other MBI treatment protocols (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction; Daily Mindfulness Meditation Practice; Mind Body Awareness and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavior Therapy) all demonstrated that MBI reduces factors associated with suicide risk.

Conclusion: MBI might target specific processes and contribute to suicide risk reduction.

Keywords: Suicide; mindfulness; suicide behavior; suicide ideation; systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

No conflicts of interest declared concerning the publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. PRISMA flowchart illustrating the systematic review process.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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