title: Development and psychometric properties of the Suicidality of Adolescent Screening Scale (SASS) using Multidimensional Item Response Theory.
abstract: Suicide prevention in adolescents by early detection using screening tools to identify high suicidal risk is a priority. Our objective was to build a multidimensional scale namely "Suicidality of Adolescent Screening Scale (SASS)" to identify adolescents at risk of suicide. An initial pool of items was developed by using in-depth interview, focus groups and a literature review. Initially, 77 items were administered to 307 adolescents and analyzed using the exploratory Multidimensional Item Response Theory (MIRT) to remove unnecessary items. A subsequent exploratory factor analysis revealed 35 items that collected into 4 factors: Stressors, Pessimism, Suicidality and Depression. To confirm this structure, a new sample of 450 adolescents were collected and confirmatory MIRT factor analysis was performed. The resulting scale was shown to be both construct valid and able to discriminate well between adolescents that had, and hadn't previous attempted suicide.
authors.affiliation: Prasrimahabhodi Psychiatric Hospital, 212 Jangsanit Rd, Meung District, Ubonratchathani, Thailand. Electronic address: ssstboon@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Supattra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sukhawaha
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kean University, 123 Mittapap Rd., Muang District, Khon Kean, Thailand.
authors.forename: Suwanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arunpongpaisal
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, 254 Phayathai Rd., Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
authors.forename: Cameron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hurst
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000067657:Pessimism / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*