van Bentum JS, Kerkhof AJFM, Huibers MJH, Holmes EA, de Geus S, Sijbrandij M. The
Suicidal Intrusions Attributes Scale (SINAS): a new tool measuring suicidal intrusions.
Front Psychiatry 2023;
14:1158340. [PMID:
37476542 PMCID:
PMC10354241 DOI:
10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1158340]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
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.
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