Brief Description
The Suicide Cognitions Scale-Revised (SCS-R) is a psychological assessment tool that assesses the thoughts, perceptions, and beliefs frequently experienced by individuals who have attempted suicide. It serves as an empirically supported measure of increased vulnerability to suicidal behavior, with multiple studies demonstrating its superior predictive ability for future suicide attempts compared to suicidal ideation alone. The SCS-R asks respondents to rate their level of agreement with statements that are commonly experienced by suicide attempt survivors. Responses are rated on a 5-point scale from "Strongly Disagree" to "Strongly Agree." The SCS-R is utilized for suicide risk screening, assessment, monitoring, and research, offering clinicians and researchers a method to identify and track suicide risk over time.
Assessment Administration Type
Self-report
Number of questions
16
Age Range for Administration
18+
Recommended Frequency of Administration
Weekly or as clinically appropriate
Summary of Scoring and Interpretations
To calculate the Suicide Cognitions Scale-Revised (SCS-R), sum the responses of the 16 items on the measure. Total scores can range from 0 to 64, with higher scores indicating an increased probability of suicidal behavior. The SCS-R does not have a cutoff score. SCS-R scores should be used as one of multiple data points in a comprehensive suicide risk assessment. Additionally, clinicians can qualitatively analyze responses to gain insight into the respondent’s beliefs about themselves, others, and the world. This understanding can guide more targeted cognitive interventions and inform suicide risk assessments and treatment plans.
Blueprint Adjustments
N/A
Clinical Considerations
Estimated time for completion: 4-6 minutes
The original measure has been validated with an adolescent population; however, this revised version has not yet been validated. It is reasonable to assume this measure would be appropriate to use with adolescents if clinically indicated.
The measure’s authors strongly recommended that clinical decision-making not rely solely on the measure's scores. The predictive utility of suicide risk screening and assessment scales is limited, and suicide risk states are highly variable.
There are multiple versions of this measure, including the B-SCS, which is also on Blueprint. Here are a few things to keep in mind when deciding which measure to administer:
The B-SCS offers the highest efficiency for screening purposes due to its brevity, while the SCS-R may be more suitable for more in-depth assessments and measurement of suicide risk, such as therapy outcome monitoring or research studies.
The B-SCS includes the word "suicide" on the measure, whereas the SCS-R omits it in order to be less obvious when measuring suicide risk. Clinical judgment should be used when considering which measure to use, especially when working in populations or settings that include a high level of stigma or sensitivity to the word "suicide."
Citation
Relevant Articles + Further Resources
We're here for you!
Do you have follow-up questions? We're here and happy to help!
Send us an email at help@blueprint-health.com or use the help messenger in the lower right corner to speak with our Support team. 💪🏼