Citation

Horowitz LM, Mournet AM, Sheftall A, He JP, Lowry NJ, Aguinaldo LD, Sullivant SA, Wharff EA, Merikangas KR, Pao M, Bridge JA. J. Acad. Consult. Liaison Psychiatry 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jaclp.2022.10.001

PMID

36273745

Abstract

PURPOSE: Given the increasing rates of suicide and non-fatal suicide attempts among Black youth in the United States, it is crucial that screening tools are valid in identifying Black youth at risk for suicide. This study assessed the validity of the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) among Black youth.

METHODS: This analysis used pooled data from three ASQ validation studies of pediatric medical patients ages 10-21 years. All participants completed the ASQ and the gold standard Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire.

RESULTS: Of the 1,083 participants, 330 (30.5%) were non-Hispanic Black and 753 (69.5%) were non-Hispanic White. ASQ psychometric properties for Black and White participants were equivalent (sensitivity = 94% vs. 90.9%; specificity = 91.4% vs. 91.8%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in ASQ psychometric properties between Black and White youth, indicating that the ASQ is valid for screening Black youth at risk for suicide.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescents; suicide; validity; screening; racial disparities