title: Sheehan Suicidality Tracking Scale (S-STS): reliability, convergent and discriminative validity in young Italian adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Sheehan Suicidality Tracking Scale (S-STS) is a patient self-report or clinician-administered rating scale that tracks spontaneous and treatment-emergent suicidal ideation and behaviors. This study set out to evaluate the reliability, convergent and divergent validity of the S-STS in a sample of college students, a population with a high risk of completed and attempted suicide.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, survey design. Participants (303 undergraduate students; males: 42%) completed several measures assessing psychological distress (General Health Questionnaire; GHQ); self-esteem (Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale; RSES); social support (Modified Social Support Survey; MOSSS); and suicidal behavior, including ideation and attempts (S-STS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both internal consistency and test-retest stability were excellent for the S-STS-global score. The S-STS subscale on suicide ideation also showed good reliability, while the subscale on suicidal behavior showed some inconsistency at retest. Convergent and divergent validity of S-STS was confirmed. All S-STS items loaded on a single factor, which had an excellent fit for the unidimensional model, thus justifying the use of the S-STS as a screening tool. In a mediation model, self-esteem and social support explained 45% of the effects of psychological distress on suicide ideation and behavior as measured by the S-STS-global score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provided promising evidence on the convergent, divergent, internal consistency and test-retest stability of the Sheehan Suicidality Tracking Scale. The cross-sectional design and lack of measures of hopelessness and helplessness prevent any conclusion about the links of suicidal behavior with self-esteem and social support.
authors.affiliation: Department of Education, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Genneruxi Medical Center, Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: apreti@tin.it.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Preti
authors.forename: David V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Sheehan
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Coric
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Distinto
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pitanti
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vacca
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siddi
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Masala
authors.forename: Donatella Rita
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Petretto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D000092864:Suicide Prevention