title: Too Much to Bear: Psychometric Evidence Supporting the Perceived Burdensomeness Scale.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  People who feel they have become a burden on others may become susceptible to suicidal ideation. When people no longer feel capable or productive, they may assume that friends and family members would be better off without them.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was designed to assess preliminary psychometric properties of a new measure, the Perceived Burdensomeness (PBS) Scale.
  
  
  METHODS
  Depressed psychiatric patients (N = 173) were recruited from a veterans affairs medical center. Patients were assessed with a structured diagnostic interview and self-report measures assessing perceived burdensomeness, depression severity, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The present study supported preliminary evidence of reliability and concurrent validity of the PBS. Additionally, perceived burdensomeness was significantly associated with higher levels of hopelessness and suicidal ideation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is hoped that with the aid of the PBS clinicians may be able to intervene more specifically in the treatment of suicidality.
authors.affiliation: 3 School of Professional Psychology, University of the Rockies, Colorado Springs, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Peak
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Overholser
authors.affiliation: 2 Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ridley
authors.affiliation: 4 Center for Healthy Eating and Activity Research, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Abby
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Braden
authors.affiliation: 5 Depression Clinical and Research Program, Department of Psychiatry Massachusetts, General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.affiliation: 6 Counseling and Psychological Services, Frostburg State University, MD, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bixler
authors.affiliation: 7 The Sexual Responsibility and Treatment Program, Torrance State Hospital, Derry, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chandler
mesh_terms: D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: assessment; depression; hopelessness; perceived burdensomeness; suicide