Emerging pharmacological and neuromodulation interventions for suicidal ideation and behaviour.
European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology July 17, 2026 Mauro Scala, Enrico Magrini, Ivana Leccisotti et al.
Suicide remains a leading cause of early death worldwide, and current treatments are limited by slow onset, short durability, or poor tolerability. This narrative review of 34 studies over the past decade examined pharmacological and neuromodulation interventions for suicidal ideation or suicide attempt that are not yet approved for these uses. Across controlled trials, suicidal ideation commonly improved within days to weeks. Some trials reported reductions in suicidal ideation beyond changes in depression scores, suggesting partial independence, though evidence remains inconsistent. Encouraging results were reported for NMDA-related drugs, opioid-system modulation, ayahuasca, and certain neuromodulation techniques, while non-medical cannabis use was associated with worse suicidal ideation trajectories.