Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41699654›Full record

ReviewAnnals of general psychiatry2026

Understanding suicide risk in mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review of suicide epidemiology in older adults.

Nicole Bungaro, Rossella Mattea Quinto, Lorenzo Scoma, Laura Dattilo, Claudio Imperatori, Marco Innamorati, Federica Genova, Michela Balsamo, Leonardo Carlucci

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Annals of general psychiatry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

9 authors.

Nicole Bungaro *Department of Health and Life Sciences, European University of Rome, 00163, Rome, Italy. nicolebung@libero.it.
Rossella Mattea Quinto *Department of Health and Life Sciences, European University of Rome, 00163, Rome, Italy.
Lorenzo ScomaDepartment of Health and Life Sciences, European University of Rome, 00163, Rome, Italy.
Laura DattiloDepartment of Human Studies, University of Foggia, 71121, Foggia, Italy.
Claudio ImperatoriDepartment of Health and Life Sciences, European University of Rome, 00163, Rome, Italy.
Marco InnamoratiDepartment of Health and Life Sciences, European University of Rome, 00163, Rome, Italy.
Federica GenovaDepartment of Health and Life Sciences, European University of Rome, 00163, Rome, Italy.
Michela BalsamoDepartment of Psychology, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100, Chieti, Italy.
Leonardo CarlucciDepartment of Human Studies, University of Foggia, 71121, Foggia, Italy. leonardo.carlucci@unifg.it.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLate-life suicide represents a major public health issue, with older adults showing the highest lethality and completion rates. Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a critical stage of increased psychological vulnerability, may represent an acute phase of suicide vulnerability. This systematic review aimed to synthesize existing evidence on suicide risk among older adults with MCI, examining the prevalence of suicide ideation and behaviors, as well as associated factors and therapeutic outcomes.

methodsFollowing PRISMA guidelines, four databases (PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, PsycINFO) were searched. Eligible studies included participants aged ≥ 65 years, presence of MCI, and an assessment of suicide risk. Methodological quality was appraised using JBI Critical Appraisal Checklists.

resultsSeventeen records published between 2002 and 2024 met inclusion criteria. Across studies, individuals with MCI consistently reported higher rates of suicide ideation compared both with cognitively intact controls and older adults showing more severe cognitive impairment. Prevalence estimates ranged from 0.5% in a large community sample to as high as 84% in a clinical cohort. Depressive symptoms, particularly late-life depression, emerged as the strongest correlate, along with social isolation, female gender, younger age, being single, and multimorbidity. Across three randomized controlled trials, psychotherapeutic interventions and supportive care conditions were associated with reductions in suicide ideation, likely mediated by improvements in emotional regulation and depression.

conclusionMCI may represent a particularly vulnerable stage of cognitive decline, marked by preserved insight, loss of autonomy, and heightened existential distress. Standardizing diagnostic criteria and suicidality measures, and implementing tailored psychotherapeutic approaches, are essential steps toward prevention and early interventions in this high-risk population.

Indexed as

Cognitive impairmentIdeationOlder adultsSuicide riskSystematic

Identifiers

PMID41699654
PMCPMC13014771

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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 Socratic graph.