Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation [PANSI-14]

Tool Description

The Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation Inventory (PANSI-14) is a psychometric instrument designed to assess two complementary dimensions of suicidal cognition: negative suicide ideation, which reflects risk-related thoughts and emotions associated with suicidal behavior, and positive ideation, which represents protective thoughts and psychological factors that reduce vulnerability to suicide.

Unlike assessment tools that focus exclusively on suicidal thoughts, the PANSI-14 adopts a comprehensive approach by examining both risk factors and protective factors associated with suicidal behavior. This allows researchers and mental health professionals to obtain a more balanced understanding of an individual’s psychological state.

The PANSI-14 consists of 14 self-report items organized into two main subscales:

1. Negative Suicide Ideation

The Negative Suicide Ideation subscale evaluates the presence, intensity, and frequency of thoughts and feelings associated with suicidal risk.

It assesses psychological characteristics such as:

• suicidal thoughts and preoccupation with death,
• feelings of hopelessness,
• perception that problems are unsolvable,
• emotional distress and psychological pain,
• loneliness and social withdrawal,
• reduced expectations for the future.

Higher scores on this dimension indicate increased levels of suicidal ideation and greater psychological vulnerability.

2. Positive Ideation

The Positive Ideation subscale evaluates cognitive and emotional factors that function as protective mechanisms against suicidal behavior.

It examines aspects including:

• hope and positive expectations for the future,
• sense of meaning and purpose in life,
• supportive interpersonal relationships,
• desire to continue living,
• perceived ability to overcome difficulties.

Higher scores indicate stronger protective resources, greater resilience, and reduced vulnerability to suicidal behavior.

Objective of the Scale

The primary objective of the PANSI-14 is to provide a comprehensive assessment of suicidal ideation by evaluating both negative and positive psychological processes related to suicide risk.

Specifically, the scale aims to:

• identify the presence and severity of suicidal thoughts,
• assess psychological vulnerability and emotional distress,
• detect protective factors that reduce suicide risk,
• support clinical assessment and intervention planning,
• evaluate the effectiveness of suicide prevention programs.

The PANSI-14 can be used with clinical populations, adolescents, university students, and community samples in psychological and public health research.

Structure and Dimensions of the Scale

The PANSI-14 includes 14 self-report items measuring two independent but related dimensions:

Subscale	Description
Negative Suicide Ideation	Suicidal thoughts, hopelessness, psychological distress, and risk-related factors
Positive Ideation	Hope, social support, reasons for living, and protective psychological resources

The two-factor structure enables simultaneous evaluation of suicide-related risk and resilience factors.

Scoring and Interpretation

Responses are typically rated using a five-point Likert scale:

1 = Never
2 = Rarely
3 = Sometimes
4 = Often
5 = Always

Two separate scores are calculated:

Negative Suicide Ideation Score

Higher scores indicate:

• greater frequency of suicidal thoughts,
• increased hopelessness,
• higher psychological risk.

Positive Ideation Score

Higher scores indicate:

• stronger protective factors,
• greater psychological resilience,
• stronger connection with life and social relationships.

The interpretation of results should always be conducted within a broader psychological assessment framework and should not be considered a standalone diagnostic measure.

Data Analysis and Use

Data obtained from the PANSI-14 can be analyzed using various statistical methods:

Reliability Analysis

Assessment of internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha (α) to evaluate the reliability of the two subscales.

Factor Analysis

Application of:

• Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA),
• Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA),

to examine and confirm the two-dimensional structure of the instrument.

Correlation Analysis

Investigation of relationships between suicidal ideation and psychological variables, including:

• depression,
• anxiety,
• hopelessness,
• social support,
• quality of life,
• psychological resilience.

Intervention Evaluation

The PANSI-14 may be used to assess changes following:

• psychotherapy interventions,
• suicide prevention programs,
• resilience-building interventions,
• mental health support programs.

Applications

The PANSI-14 is widely applicable in:

• clinical psychology,
• psychiatry and mental health services,
• suicide prevention research,
• educational and university settings,
• community mental health studies,
• public health research.

The instrument provides a multidimensional understanding of suicidal ideation by combining the assessment of suicide-related risk with the identification of protective psychological factors that support resilience and life engagement.

References

Osman, A., Gutierrez, P. M., Kopper, B. A., Barrios, F. X., & Chiros, C. E. (1998). The Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation (PANSI) Inventory: Psychometric Evaluation with Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatient Samples. Journal of Personality Assessment, 70(3), 491–503.

Osman, A., Bagge, C. L., Gutierrez, P. M., Konick, L. C., Kopper, B. A., & Barrios, F. X. (2001). The Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R): Validation with Clinical and Nonclinical Samples. Assessment, 8(4), 443–454.

Hirsch, J. K., & Conner, K. R. (2006). Dispositional and Explanatory Style Optimism as Potential Moderators of the Relationship Between Hopelessness and Suicidal Ideation. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 36(6), 661–669.