Assessment of near-term risk for suicide attempts using the suicide crisis inventory.

BACKGROUND: The Suicide Crisis Syndrome (SCS) describes a pre-suicidal mental state marked by entrapment accompanied by affective disturbances, loss of cognitive control, hyperarousal and social withdrawal. This study tested the consistency and validity of the Suicide Crisis Inventory (SCI), a proposed measure of SCS severity, amongst a large, heterogeneous patient sample. METHODS: The SCI was used to assess 867 adult psychiatric inpatients and outpatients. Confirmatory factor analysis, logistic regressions and area under the curve analyses (AUC) were used to examine internal structure, construct validity and predictive validity for suicide ideation, plan and attempt one-month post-assessment. RESULTS: The five-factor model of the SCS demonstrated good fit and excellent internal consistency. SCI scores indicated significant associations but non-redundancy with depression, anxiety, and independence from other dimensions of psychiatric distress. SCI scores specifically predicted suicide attempts with an AUC of 0.733 and odds ratio=8.62 (p<0.001) at optimal cut-off point. SCI incremental predictive validity over and beyond suicidal ideation and attempts history reported at baseline was supported for predicting suicide attempts (ß= 0.012, S.E = 0.006; p=0.046). LIMITATIONS: The SCI is subject to self-report bias and does not include the SCS social withdrawal component. Follow-up assessment retention was partial (68%, n=591). CONCLUSION: The SCI is validated as a tool for the assessment of the SCS intensity and of imminent suicidal behavior. The SCI is suggested as a tool that could aid both researchers and clinicians in comprehensive assessment of a pre-suicidal mental state within moderate to high-risk populations, regardless of self-report on suicidal intent.

Psychotic Symptoms Predict Suicidal Behavior Postdischarge in High Risk Psychiatric Inpatients.

BACKGROUND: Psychotic disorders, as well as psychotic symptoms, are associated with a greater lifetime risk of suicidal behavior (SB). It is not known, however, whether psychotic symptoms are independent predictors for short-term SB. METHODS: Data were collected from 201 psychiatric inpatients at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital. Self-reported psychotic symptoms were assessed using the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). Postdischarge SB defined as an aborted, interrupted, or actual suicide attempt was assessed using the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), during the 4 to 8 weeks following discharge from an inpatient psychiatric unit (n=127, 63% retention). Logistic regressions were performed to assess the relationships between psychotic symptoms and SB, controlling for primary psychiatric disorders. RESULTS: Self-reported psychotic symptoms were associated with subsequent postdischarge SB. There was no significant difference between the SB versus no SB groups on the basis of primary psychiatric disorder. Self-reported psychotic symptoms remained an independent and significant predictor of postdischarge SB when the analysis controlled for primary psychiatric disorder. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that psychotic symptoms are a dimensional predictor of near-term postdischarge SB and are a necessary component of suicide risk assessment during inpatient hospitalization, independent of psychiatric diagnosis.