An Irish research team has developed a new computer-based system which can help identify those at risk of suicide.

A research group at NUI Maynooth's Department of Psychology says it has developed a test that can correctly identify those who are experiencing suicidal thoughts with 75% accuracy.

According to the team, the tool could be used in hospital and emergency department settings to help evaluate whether an individual is at risk and therefore better allocate scarce treatment resources.

The computer-based system, called the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP), requires participants to confirm or refute statements under time pressure.

Reaction times are tracked and passed through a computer algorithm which is used to reveal unconscious attitudes or biases that can be used to predict actual behaviour, according to the Maynooth team.

The tests can reveal reveal unconscious attitudes and intentions, picking up on things that the patients themselves might not be aware of.

Trials of the system have been conducted over the past year with 24 service users from S. Patrick's University Hospital in Dublin.

The researchers point out that to date, research into suicide has largely focused on long-term suicide risk factors to indicate whether someone is at an increased risk over many years - analysing factors such as hopelessness, serious health complaints, and previous suicidal behaviour.

The new system, however,  focuses on short-term suicide risk assessment.

The NUI Maynooth research project, which is funded by the Irish Research Council, is a finalist for the upcoming ‘Making a Difference' Awards run by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

The team consists of Ian Hussey, PhD student at NUI Maynooth and Prof Dermot Barnes-Holmes of the Dept of Psychology.

Professor Barnes-Holmes said some of the most difficult behaviours to predict are those that occur very rarely but have large and devastating consequences, such as suicide.

"Ireland is no stranger to the issue of suicide and we have higher rates than the European average, especially among young men."

According to Ian Hussey, it is hoped that this research could significantly impact how hospitals and doctors can assess individuals who present at hospitals with mental health complaints, helping to identify priority cases in terms of psychological care.