Analyzing suicidality in German forensic patients by means of the German version of the suicide crisis inventory (SCI-G)

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to analyze suicidality in German forensic psychiatric patients. For this purpose, the Suicide Crisis Inventory was translated into German language and administered to 255 German forensic patients. The analysis of the psychometric properties of the translated questionnaire revealed very good item characteristics and very good to excellent values for reliability. Construct validity was demonstrated; factor structure could not be replicated. Clinical results indicate that 11.8 % of the patients suffered from a thirteen-fold increased suicide risk. Suicidal symptomsere the highest in patients with a suicide history, in patients with a violent or sexual offense, after admission to hospital and after 11 years of confinement. The findings illustrate higher suicidality in patients with severe mental disorders. However, mediation analysis suggests that suicidality is not merely a matter of underlying disorders but also depends on hopelessness and can be reduced by easing the institutional restraints.

KEYWORDS:

• Suicide
• suicide
• attempted
• validation studies
• psychometrics

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Bavarian State Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Affairs.