This report details the development of an empirical suicide risk scale
for adults hospitalized due to a depressive or suicidal state. The authors
studied 2,753 such subjects prospectively regarding 101 psychosocial
variables. In a 2-year follow-up, 136 (4.94%) of the subjects had committed
suicide. Rigorous statistical analysis, including a validation procedure,
identified 15 variables as significant predictors of suicidal outcome.
These were translated into a paper-and-pencil scale that gives an estimated
risk of suicide within 2 years. Such an instrument can provide a valuable
supplement to clinical judgment and a quantitative expression of suicide
risk.
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