Work

The Suicidal Intrusions Attributes Scale (SINAS): a new tool measuring suicidal intrusions

Year: 2023

Type: article

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: = 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.

Source: Frontiers in Psychiatry

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1158340

Authors: Jaël S. van Bentum, Ad J. F. M. Kerkhof, Marcus J. H. Huibers, Emily A. Holmes, Stephan de Geus, Marit Sijbrandij