Assessment of suicide-related outcomes through clinical interviews: a scoping review

INTRODUCTION: Suicide is a significant global public health issue. In recent years, suicide risk assessment has shifted toward qualitative methods to better capture the complexity of the suicidal experience. Understanding how qualitative clinical interviews are used in this context can contribute to more personalized prevention and intervention strategies. METHODS: This scoping review aimed to map and summarize existing clinical interviews - both validated and unvalidated - that use qualitative or multi-method approaches to assess suicide-related experiences. A systematic search was conducted across major databases (PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, MEDLINE, Scopus) covering the last 12 years, up to September 2025. A total of 201 studies met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: The review revealed considerable heterogeneity in the use of qualitative interviews for suicide-related outcomes. The studies were analyzed in terms of interview structure (e.g., structured, semi-structured, unstructured), main areas assessed (e.g., suicidal ideation, history of suicide attempts, risk/protective factors), and the presence or absence of validation studies. CONCLUSION: This scoping review highlights the heterogeneity of qualitative interview approaches used in suicide assessment, as well as the limited validation of many existing tools. The findings underscore the need for more rigorous and standardized methodologies to inform personalized and context-sensitive suicide prevention strategies.