Citation

Nugent WR. Stress Trauma Crisis 2006; 9(1): 1-15.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15434610500506209

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study investigated the measurement characteristics of the Multi-Problem Screening Inventory (MPSI) suicidal thoughts subscale. A sample of 542 responses to the MPSI was obtained and the responses on the suicidal thoughts subscale were analyzed using classical, Item Response, and Generalizability Theory methods. Results indicated that the MPSI suicidal thoughts subscale produced scores with very desirable measurement properties for use in 1) monitoring a client's change in suicidal ideation across time, and 2) making tentative decisions concerning the clinical significance of a client's suicidal thinking. The measurement error characteristics of the MPSI suicidal thoughts subscale scores reach a minimum very near the clinical cutting point and then remain relatively constant across the range of presumably clinically significant levels of suicidal thinking. The results of this study suggest that the MPSI suicidal thoughts subscale can be used by practitioners in a wide range of practice settings to identify, assess, and monitor their clients' problems with suicidal thinking.