Dimensions of Suicidality: Analyzing the Domains of the SIS-MAP Suicide Risk Assessment Instrument and the Development of a Brief Screener

Abstract

This study aimed at validating the domains of suicidality assessed by the Scale for Impact of Suicidality—Management, Assessment and Planning of Care (SIS-MAP) and creating a brief screener based on the full scale. A total of 50 individuals with suicidal ideation were given the SIS-MAP interview. Support was found for these domains of suicide risk; in particular, the subscales of ideation and protective factors for suicide risk were highly reliable. For each domain of suicidality, items most predictive of total risk index scores were selected to create a brief screener aimed at expediting the assessment process. The screener was reliable, predicted overall suicide risk index scores, and approached significance in predicting subsequent suicide attempts.

Keywords:

• crisis services
• mental health
• suicide
• suicide risk assessment
• validation study