A systematic review on passive sensing for the prediction of suicidal thoughts and behaviors

Rebekka Büscher; Tanita Winkler; Jacopo Mocellin; Stephanie Homan; Natasha Josifovski; Marketa Ciharova; Ward van Breda; Sam Kwon; Mark E Larsen; John Torous; Joseph Firth; Lasse B Sander

doi:10.1038/s44184-024-00089-4

A systematic review on passive sensing for the prediction of suicidal thoughts and behaviors

Npj Ment Health Res. 2024 Sep 23;3(1):42. doi: 10.1038/s44184-024-00089-4.

Authors

Rebekka Büscher^{1

2}, Tanita Winkler³, Jacopo Mocellin^{4

5}, Stephanie Homan^{4

5}, Natasha Josifovski⁶, Marketa Ciharova^{7

6

8}, Ward van Breda⁷, Sam Kwon⁹, Mark E Larsen^{6

10}, John Torous⁹, Joseph Firth¹¹, Lasse B Sander³

Affiliations

¹ Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. [email protected].
² Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. [email protected].
³ Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
⁴ Experimental Psychopathology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
⁶ Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁷ Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
⁸ Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
⁹ Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
¹⁰ Centre for Big Data Research in Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
¹¹ Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.

Abstract

Passive sensing data from smartphones and wearables may help improve the prediction of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB). In this systematic review, we explored the feasibility and predictive validity of passive sensing for STB. On June 24, 2024, we systematically searched Medline, Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, and PsycINFO. Studies were eligible if they investigated the association between STB and passive sensing, or the feasibility of passive sensing in this context. From 2107 unique records, we identified eleven prediction studies, ten feasibility studies, and seven protocols. Studies indicated generally lower model performance for passive compared to active data, with three out of four studies finding no incremental value. PROBAST ratings revealed major shortcomings in methodology and reporting. Studies suggested that passive sensing is feasible in high-risk populations. In conclusion, there is limited evidence on the predictive value of passive sensing for STB. We highlight important quality characteristics for future research.