Patients at high risk of suicide before and during a COVID-19 lockdown: ecological momentary assessment study

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak may have affected the mental health of patients at high risk of suicide. In this study we explored the wish to die and other suicide risk factors using smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) in patients with a history of suicidal thoughts and behaviour. Contrary to our expectations we found a decrease in the wish to die during lockdown. This is consistent with previous studies showing that suicide rates decrease during periods of social emergency. Smartphone-based EMA can allow us to remotely assess patients and overcome the physical barriers imposed by lockdown. This study received grant support from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII PI13/02200; PI16/ 01852; CM19/00026), Delegación del Gobierno para el Plan Nacional de Drogas (20151073), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (LSRG-1-005-16), the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (RTI2018-099655-B-I00; TEC2017-92552-EXP) and by the Comunidad de Madrid (Y2018/TCS-4705, PRACTICO-CM).