Citation

Nimeus A, Träskman-Bendz L. Arch. Suicide Res. 2002; 6(3): 211-219.

Affiliation

University Hospital, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Sweden

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13811110214142

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The aim of this study was to scrutinize individual items as well as total scores of the Suicidal Intent Scale (SIS) in order to find out its usefulness for predicting suicide. Consecutive patients (N=555) were evaluated and rated with SIS shortly after a suicide attempt. When followed up at a mean time of 4.5 years, 22 (4%) had committed suicide. Those who later committed suicide had been scored significantly higher than those who did not commit suicide. In an effort to find a score-limit of the SIS which could be associated with future suicide, we formulated a receiver operating characteristic curve. From this we were able to detect a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 60.3% of scores of 19 and above in people aged 55 years and older. In a logistic regression analysis we also found that age above 55 years, mood disorder diagnoses and SIS scores of 19 or above significantly predicted suicide. Our conclusion is that the SIS could be a valuable tool in predicting suicide, especially in elderly suicide attempters.