Does the Suicide Assessment Scale predict risk of repetition? A prospective study of suicide attempters at a hospital emergency department.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the modified version of the Suicide Assessment Scale (SUAS) can be utilised to predict risk of repeat suicidal behaviour.


METHODS
Hundred and sixty-five patients aged 18 to 68 years who were admitted to emergency wards after a suicide attempt were interviewed. Follow-up interviews (n=96) were carried out after 2 months. Associations between SUAS scores and repeat attempt (fatal/non-fatal) during the following 3 years were analysed and the instrument's ability to predict repetition was assessed.


RESULTS
High SUAS score (>30) was associated with repetition. The ability of the SUAS to correctly predict repeat suicidal behaviour in the entire study group was low (AUC=0.65, 95% CI=0.56-0.74) but better for those (n=42) who reported ongoing psychiatric treatment at follow-up (AUC=0.78, 95% CI 0.63-0.94). Among the latter group, all with baseline SUAS scores >30 made repeats.


CONCLUSIONS
The modified SUAS performed well as a screening instrument in psychiatric patients.
Waern
M
M
Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. margda.waern@neuro.gu.se
Sjöström
N
N
Marlow
T
T
Hetta
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012372:ROC Curve; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology