Analysis

The Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R) is a psychometric tool used to assess suicidal behavior. It includes four questions addressing the history of suicidal thoughts and attempts, frequency of suicidal ideation, severity of suicidal intent, and the likelihood of future suicidal behavior. The questionnaire is brief and easy to use, making it suitable for both clinical and research settings. It has been translated and validated in multiple languages and has demonstrated high reliability and validity.

Purpose

The primary aim of the SBQ-R is to quickly and effectively assess suicide risk in various populations, including psychiatric patients and the general population. By identifying suicidal thoughts and behaviors, the SBQ-R helps health professionals detect individuals at high risk and take appropriate steps to prevent suicide. It is also used in research to understand risk factors and to develop effective suicide prevention interventions.

Scoring

Scoring for the SBQ-R is based on responses to its four questions, each with its own rating scale:
Question 1: Scores range from 1 (Never) to 6 (Very often) and assess history of suicidal thoughts and attempts.
Question 2: Scores range from 1 (Never) to 5 (Nearly every day) and evaluate the frequency of suicidal ideation over the past year.
Question 3: Scores range from 1 (Never thought about it) to 3 (I might do it) and assess the severity of suicidal intent.
Question 4: Scores range from 0 (Not at all likely) to 6 (Very likely) and assess the likelihood of future suicidal behavior.
The total score is the sum of the four items, ranging from 3 to 18. Higher scores indicate greater suicide risk, and scores above certain thresholds may signal the need for immediate clinical intervention.

Reference

Osman, A., Bagge, C. L., Guitierrez, P. M., Kooper, B. A., & Barrios, F. X. (2001). The Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R): Validation with clinical and nonclinical samples. Assessment, 5, 443–454.