The Suicidal Intrusions Attributes Scale (SINAS): a new tool measuring suicidal intrusions

Jaël S. van Bentum, Ad J.F.M. Kerkhof, Marcus J.H. Huibers, Emily A. Holmes, Stephan de Geus, Marit Sijbrandij

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Introduction: Suicidal intrusions are uncontrollable, intrusive mental images (e. g., visualizing a future suicidal act). They may also be called suicidal “flash-forwards.” Despite the importance of integrating the assessment of suicidal intrusions into a clinical routine assessment, quick self-report screening instruments are lacking. This study describes the development of a new instrument—Suicidal Intrusions Attributes Scale (SINAS)—to assess the severity and characteristics of suicidal intrusions and examines its psychometric properties. Method: The sample included currently suicidal outpatients with elevated levels of depression recruited across mental health institutions in the Netherlands (N = 168). Instruments administered were 10-item SINAS, the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS), the Prospective Imagery Task (PIT), four-item Suicidal Cognitions Interview (SCI), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). Results: An exploratory factor analysis identified a one-factor structure. The resulting SINAS demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.91) and convergent validity, as expected. Discussion: Overall, this study demonstrated acceptable levels of reliability and validity of the measure in a depressed clinical population with suicidal ideation. The SINAS may be a useful screening tool for suicidal intrusions in both research and clinical settings.
Original languageEnglish
Article number1158340
JournalFrontiers in Psychiatry
Volume14
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Funding

The data used in the current study were collected in the context of a Large Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial that was funded by ZonMw (the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development; Project Number 537001003). The funder had no role in the study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing the report.

FundersFunder number
ZonMw537001003

    Keywords

    • Suicidal Intrusions Attributes Scale
    • intrusions
    • intrusiveness
    • mental imagery
    • suicidal imagery
    • suicide
    • validation study

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