Citation

Spangenberg L, Glaesmer H, Scherer A, Gecht J, Barke A, Mainz V, Forkmann T. Psychiatr. Prax. 2014; 43(2): 95-100.

Vernacular Title

Furchtlosigkeit vor dem Tod und Suizidalität: Psychometrische Eigenschaften der deutschen Version der revidierten Acquired Capability for Suicide Scale (ACSS-FAD).

Affiliation

Institut für Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, RWTH Aachen.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Georg Thieme Verlag)

DOI

10.1055/s-0034-1387375

PMID

25526501

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The Acquired Capability of Suicide Scale (ACSS-FAD) assesses fearlessness about death according to the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide. Psychometric properties of the German version of the ACSS-FAD are investigated.

METHODS: Dimensionality and validity were analysed in a sample of N = 268 undergraduate students.

RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis replicated the unidimensionality of the measure. Correlations with suicidal ideation (r = .05) and self-reported capability for suicide (r = .14) supported the validity of the scale, while the association with depression (r = - .20) is not in line with the theory. Male participants and participants reporting past self-injurious behaviour/suicidal attempts did not show higher levels of fearlessness about death.

CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates good psychometric properties of the German ACSS-FAD and largely supports the validity of the measure. However, future research needs to further investigate the validity of the ACSS-FAD (i. e. testing the utility of the instrument in predicting suicidal behaviour in patients at risk).

Language: de