Summary
Fifteen rating scales for the estimation of suicide risks are reviewed. The report focuses on methods of scale development and validation. Problems of predictive accuracy, and ways of improving the prediction of suicidal behaviour are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beck AT, Schuyler D, Herman J (1974) Development of suicidal intent scales. In: Beck AT, Resnik HLP, Lettieri AJ (eds) The prediction of suicide. Charles Press Publishers, Bowie, pp 45–56
Braucht G, Wilson N (1970) Predictive utility of the Revised Suicide Potential Scale. J Consult Clin Psychol 34:426
Brown TR, Sheran TJ (1972) Suicide prediction: A review. Life-Threat Behav 2:67–98
Buglass D, Horton J (1974) A scale for predicting subsequent suicidal behaviour. Br J Psychiatr 124:573–578
Buglass D, McCulloch JW (1970) Further suicidal behavior: The development and validation of predictive scales. Br J Psychiatr 116:483–491
Chowdhury N, Hicks RC, Kreitman N (1973) Evaluation of an aftercare service for parasuicide (attempted suicide) patients. Soc Psychiatr 8:67–81
Cohen E, Motto JA, Seiden RH (1966) An instrument for evaluating suicide potential: A preliminary study. Am J Psychiatr 122:886–891
Dean RA, Miskimins W, De Cook R, Wilson LT, Maley RF (1967) Prediction of suicide in a psychiatric hospital. J Clin Psychol 23:296–301
Diekstra RFW (1972) Social and interpersonal factors in suicidal behaviour: A theoretical and empirical analysis. In: Diekstra RFW, Van de Loo KIM (eds) The cost of crisis. Van Gorcum, Assen, pp 100–139
Farberow NL, MacKinnon D (1974) A suicide prediction schedule for neuropsychiatric hospital patients. J Nerv Merit Dis 158:408–419
Farberow NL, MacKinnon D (1976) Prediction of suicide: A replication study. In: Achté K, Lönnqvist J (eds) Suicide research. Psychiatr Fenn [Suppl], pp 141–145
Garzotto N, Siani R, Tansella CZ, Tansella M (1976) Cross-validation of a predictive scale for subsequent suicidal behaviour in an Italian sample. Br J Psychiatr 128:137–140
Grüneberg F, Helmchen H, Hippius H (1972) Zur Phänomenologie von Suizidversuchen anhand von über 500 Beobachtungen an einem großstädtischen Reanimationszentrum. Therapiewoche 22:2242–2252
Henseler H, Marten RF, Sodemann U (1983) Kriterienliste als Screening-Instrument zur Erfassung chronischer Suizidalität. Nervenarzt 54:33–41
Lettieri DJ (1974) Suicidal prediction scales. In: Beck AF, Resnik HL, Lettieri DJ (eds) The prediction of suicide. Charles Press Publishers, Bowie, pp 163–192
Van de Loo KJ, Diekstra RW (1970) The construction of a questionnaire for prediction of subsequent suicidal attempts: A preliminary study. Nederlands Tijdschrift voor de Psychologie en haar Grensgebieden 25 (2):95–100
Miskimins R, Wilson L (1969) The Revised Suicide Potential Scale. J Consult Clin Psychol 33:258
Motto JA (1979) The psychopathology of suicide: A clinical model approach. Am J Psychiatr 136:516–520
Motto JA, Heilbron DC (1976) Development and validation of scales for estimation of suicidal risk. In: Shneideman ES (ed) Suicidology, contemporary developments. Grime and Stratton, New York, pp 169–199
Padrutt H (1970) Die Abschätzung der Suizidalität. Praxis 59:403414
Pallis DJ, Barraclough BM, Levey AB, Jenkins JS, Sainsbury P (1982) Estimating suicide risk among attempted suicides. I. The development of new clinical scales. Br J Psychiatr 141:37–44
Pallis DJ, Gibbons JS, Pierce DW (1984) Estimating suicide risk among attempted suicides. II. Efficiency of predictive scales after the attempt. Br J Psychiatr 144:139–148
Patterson W, Dohn HH, Birg J, Patterson GA (1983) Evaluation of suicidal patients: The SAD PERSONS scale. Psychosomatics 24 (4):434–439
Pierce DW (1977) Suicide intent in self injury. Br J Psychiatr 130:377–385
Pöldinger W (1968) Die Abschätzung der Suizidalität. Huber, Bern Stuttgart
Pöldinger W, Sonneck G (1974) Die Beurteilung des Suizidrisikos. In: Speyer N, Diekstra RFW, Van de Loo KJM (eds) Proceedings of the 7th International Congress on Suicide Prevention. Swets and Zeitlinger, Amsterdam, pp 71–79
Pöldinger W, Sonneck G (1980) Die Abschätzung der Suizidalität. Nervenarzt 51:147–151
Resnik JH, Kendra JM (1973) Predictive value of the “Scale for Assessing Suicidal Risk“ (SASR) with hospitalized psychiatric patients. J Clin Psychol 29:187–190
Rosen A (1954) Detection of suicidal patients: An example of some limitations in the prediction of infrequent events. J Consult Psychol 18:397–403
Schmidtke A, Schaller S (1981) Möglichkeiten und Grenzen testpsychologischer Diagnostik suizidalen Verhaltens. In: Welz R, Pohlmeier H (Hrsg) Selbstmordhandlungen. Beltz, Weinheim Basel, pp 222–295
Siani R, Garzotto N, Zimmermann C, Tansella CZ, Tansella M (1979) Predictive scales for parasuicidal repetition. Further results. Acta Psychiatr Scand 59:17–23
Sonneck G, Grüneberg J, Ringel E (1976) Experimental contribution for the evaluation of the suicide risk of depressive patients. Psychiatr Clin 9:84–96
Taussigova D, Vinar O, Bastecky J, Tenkrat M (1975) A method of predicting suicidal behavior. Activitas Nervosa Superior 17:240–241
Tuckman J, Youngman WF (1968) A scale for assessing suicide risk of attempted suicides. J Clin Psychol 24:17–19
Weisman AD, Worden JW (1972) Risk-rescue rating in suicide assessment. Arch Gen Psychiatr 26:553–560
Zung WWK (1974) Index of Potential Suicide (IPS). In: Beck AT, Resnik HLP, Lettieri D (eds) The prediction of suicide. Charles Press Publishers, Bowie, pp 221–249
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This review was supported by the Federal Ministry of Health as part of a research project on the evaluation of treatment programs for suicide attempters.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bürk, F., Kurz, A. & Möller, HJ. Suicide risk scales: Do they help to predict suicidal behaviour?. Eur Arch Psychiatr Neurol Sci 235, 153–157 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00380986
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00380986