All of the included studies in this review showed a significant overall improvement in primary outcome measures in psychosocial interventions for patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and acute psychosis over time and/or compared to treatment as usual.
Furthermore, the reduction in suicidal behaviour for psychotic patients over time was present for the majority
of the psychological interventions, but only 40% of these findings were statistically different to treatment as usual.
This is in line with previous reviews on suicidal behaviour in general (Tarrier et al. 2008; Daigle et al. 2011)
and studies with psychotic patients in particular (Carlborg et al. 2010; Hor & Taylor 2010; Kasckow et al.
2011). One explanation for the lack of difference may be the high quality of care in the TAU group. A contamination effect of other suicide prevention strategies introduced in the TAU groups may also be responsible for the effects.