JSP
                     Journal of Suicide Prevention                                                                                     
https://isssp.ir                                                                                               Vol. 3. 2021. Article ID: e2021001       

 

Editorial                                                     

 
 
The Use of Living Systematic Reviews (LSRs) in the Area of Suicide Studies  

 

 

Mohsen Rezaeian¹

 
1. Prof., Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Occupational Environmental Research Center, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
 
                                
There are different types of review studies, including narrative, systematic and meta-analysis.  In a narrative review, an expert synthesizes evidence relating to a specific topic or research question without detailing the methods used for gathering that evidence.
In a systematic review a group of experts typically synthesize the evidence under the guidance of a pre-written protocol in which the methods of data collection and analysis are well-explained. Meta-analyses statistically combine the results of quantitative studies to provide a more precise effect on the results [1].
Since experts in different branches of science produce ever increasing amounts of new evidence, systematic reviews and meta-analyses need be updated on a regular basis. In 2014, a new type of review, the Living Systematic Review (LSR), was proposed to facilitate this process and narrow the gap between the production of evidence and the delivery of remedial action [2]. In LSRs, the painstaking review process is carried out at pre-defined intervals, e.g. monthly or three-monthly [3]. It has also been claimed that more effective and efficient use of machine automation and human effort could extensively improve the output of a typical systematic review [4].
One of the disciplinary areas that would benefit from use of LSRs is suicide studies (“suicidology”).  That is especially the case in this pandemic era when the mental health of vulnerable individual and communities has been massively affected [5]. In a very short space of time, there has been an explosion of articles, commentaries and other publications on the impact of the pandemic, and of infection-control counter-measures taken by governments worldwide on suicidal behavior. In order to take advantage of this new and increasing evidence base, continuous reviewing and assessment are vital so that policy and practice can be aligned with the latest knowledge. Fortunately, a new protocol has recently been published which establishes a LSR to study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on self-harm and suicidal behavior [6]. I would like to welcome this proposal to extend the use of LSR methodology newly published protocol as a timely reaction in the use of LSRs in this area of suicide studies.
 
 
 
 
References
1. Rezaeian, M. Getting to know the diverse types of review studies based on their approach in retrieving and summarizing original findings. JOHE 2013; 2 (4): 203-207.
2. Elliott JH, Turner T, Clavisi O, Thomas J, Higgins JP, Mavergames C, et al. Living systematic reviews: an emerging opportunity to narrow the evidence-practice gap. PLoS Med 2014 Feb 18; 11 (2): e1001603. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001603. eCollection 2014 Feb.
3. Elliott JH, Synnot A, Turner T, Simmonds M, Akl EA, McDonald S, et al. Living systematic review: 1. Introduction-the why, what, when, and how. J Clin Epidemiol 2017 Nov; 91: 23-30. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.08.010. Epub 2017 Sep 11. PMID: 28912002
4. Thomas J, Noel-Storr A, Marshall I, Wallace B, McDonald S, Mavergames C, et al. Living systematic reviews: 2. Combining human and machine effort. J Clin Epidemiol 2017 Nov; 91: 31-37. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.08.011. Epub 2017 Sep 11.
5. Rezaeian, M. Covid-19 pandemic, suicidal behavior and the International COVID-19 suicide prevention research collaboration (ICSPRC). JSP 2020; 2 (1): 1-2.
6. John A, Okolie C, Eyles E, Webb RT, Schmidt L, McGuiness LA, et al. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on self-harm and suicidal behaviour: a living systematic review. F1000Res 2020 Sep 4; 9: 1097. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.25522.1. eCollection 2020.