Citation

van Bentum JS, Kerkhof AJFM, Huibers MJH, Holmes EA, de Geus S, Sijbrandij M. Front. Psychiatry 2023; 14: e1158340.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Frontiers Media)

DOI

10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1158340

PMID

37476542

PMCID

PMC10354241

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Suicidal intrusions are uncontrollable, intrusive mental images (e. g., visualizing a future suicidal act). They may also be called suicidal "flash-forwards." Despite the importance of integrating the assessment of suicidal intrusions into a clinical routine assessment, quick self-report screening instruments are lacking. This study describes the development of a new instrument-Suicidal Intrusions Attributes Scale (SINAS)-to assess the severity and characteristics of suicidal intrusions and examines its psychometric properties.

METHOD: The sample included currently suicidal outpatients with elevated levels of depression recruited across mental health institutions in the Netherlands (N = 168). Instruments administered were 10-item SINAS, the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS), the Prospective Imagery Task (PIT), four-item Suicidal Cognitions Interview (SCI), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II).

RESULTS: An exploratory factor analysis identified a one-factor structure. The resulting SINAS demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.91) and convergent validity, as expected.

DISCUSSION: Overall, this study demonstrated acceptable levels of reliability and validity of the measure in a depressed clinical population with suicidal ideation. The SINAS may be a useful screening tool for suicidal intrusions in both research and clinical settings.

Language: en

Keywords

suicide; intrusions; intrusiveness; mental imagery; suicidal imagery; Suicidal Intrusions Attributes Scale; validation study