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Protocol - Classification of Suicidal Ideation and Suicidal Behavior - Adult - Current

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Description

This protocol includes two subscales from the Screening version of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale © (C-SSRS): Severity of Suicidal Ideation and Suicidal Behavior. Both subscales provide definitions of suicidal ideation and behavior and corresponding probes. The severity of ideation subscale is rated on a 5-point ordinal scale: 1 = wish to be dead, 2 = nonspecific active suicidal thoughts, 3 = suicidal thoughts with methods, 4 = suicidal intent, and 5 = suicidal intent with plan. The suicidal behavior subscale is rated on a nominal scale that includes actual, aborted, and interrupted attempts; preparatory behavior; and nonsuicidal, self-injurious behavior.

The Current version of the C-SSRS assesses suicidality during a two time periods-ideation in the past month and suicidal behavior in the past 3 months. This version is meant to assess patient eligibility based on study-defined suicidality inclusion/exclusion criteria or assess current severity of suicidal ideation and behavior.

Specific Instructions

This protocol includes questions that can potentially identify respondents who are at risk of suicide. Investigators implementing this protocol should consider developing a risk management plan specific to their study to ensure the safety of participants. The following links provide additional information and guidelines for suicide-related research:

ora.research.ucla.edu/OHRPP/Documents/Policy/8/Risk_of_Suicide.pdf

www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention/issues-to-consider-in-intervention-research-with-persons-at-high-risk-for-suicidality.shtml

Availability

Available

Protocol

SUICIDAL IDEATION

Ask questions 1 and 2. If both are negative, proceed to "Suicidal Behavior" section. If the answer to question 2 is "yes," ask questions 3, 4, and 5. If the answer to question 1 and/or 2 is "yes," complete "Intensity of Ideation" section below.

Past 1 month

1. Wish to be Dead

Subject endorses thoughts about a wish to be dead or not alive anymore, or wish to fall asleep and not wake up.

Have you wished you were dead or wished you could go to sleep and not wake up?

If yes, describe:

Yes   No

□   □

2. Non-Specific Active Suicidal Thoughts

General, non-specific thoughts of wanting to end one’s life/commit suicide (e.g., "I’ve thought about killing myself") without thoughts of ways to kill oneself/associated methods, intent, or plan.

Have you actually had any thoughts of killing yourself?

If yes, describe:

Yes   No

□   □

3. Active Suicidal Ideation with Any Methods (Not Plan) without Intent to Act

Subject endorses thoughts of suicide and has thought of at least one method during the assessment period. This is different than a specific plan with time, place or method details worked out (e.g., thought of method to kill self but not a specific plan). Includes person who would say, "I thought about taking an overdose but I never made a specific plan as to when, where or how I would actually do it…and I would never go through with it."

Have you been thinking about how you might do this?

If yes, describe:

Yes   No

□   □

4. Active Suicidal Ideation with Some Intent to Act, without Specific Plan

Active suicidal thoughts of killing oneself and subject reports having some intent to act on such thoughts, as opposed to "I have the thoughts but I definitely will not do anything about them."

Have you had these thoughts and had some intention of acting on them?

If yes, describe:

Yes   No

□   □

5. Active Suicidal Ideation with Specific Plan and Intent

Thoughts of killing oneself with details of plan fully or partially worked out and subject has some intent to carry it out.

Have you started to work out or worked out the details of how to kill yourself? Do you intend to carry out this plan?

If yes, describe:

Yes   No

□   □

SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR

(Check all that apply, so long as these are separate events; must ask about all types)

Past 3 months

Actual Attempt:

A potentially self-injurious act committed with at least some wish to die, as a result of act. Behavior was in part thought of as method to kill oneself. Intent does not have to be 100%. If there is any intent/desire to die associated with the act, then it can be considered an actual suicide attempt. There does not have to be any injury or harm, just the potential for injury or harm. If person pulls trigger while gun is in mouth but gun is broken so no injury results, this is considered an attempt.

Inferring Intent: Even if an individual denies intent/wish to die, it may be inferred clinically from the behavior or circumstances. For example, a highly lethal act that is clearly not an accident so no other intent but suicide can be inferred (e.g., gunshot to head, jumping from window of a high floor/story). Also, if someone denies intent to die, but they thought that what they did could be lethal, intent may be inferred.

Have you made a suicide attempt?

Have you done anything to harm yourself?

Have you done anything dangerous where you could have died?

What did you do?

Did you______ as a way to end your life?

Did you want to die (even a little) when you_____?

Were you trying to end your life when you _____?

Or did you think it was possible you could have died from_____?

Or did you do it purely for other reasons/without ANY intention of killing yourself (like to relieve stress, feel better, get sympathy, or get something else to happen)? (Self-Injurious Behavior without suicidal intent)

If yes, describe:

Yes   No

□   □

Total # of Attempts

______

Has subject engaged in Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behavior?

Yes   No

□   □

Interrupted Attempt:

When the person is interrupted (by an outside circumstance) from starting the potentially self-injurious act (if not for that, actual attempt would have occurred).

Overdose: Person has pills in hand but is stopped from ingesting. Once they ingest any pills, this becomes an attempt rather than an interrupted attempt. Shooting: Person has gun pointed toward self, gun is taken away by someone else, or is somehow prevented from pulling trigger. Once they pull the trigger, even if the gun fails to fire, it is an attempt. Jumping: Person is poised to jump, is grabbed and taken down from ledge. Hanging: Person has noose around neck but has not yet started to hang-is stopped from doing so.

Has there been a time when you started to do something to end your life but someone or something stopped you before you actually did anything?

If yes, describe:

Yes   No

□   □

Total # of interrupted

______

Aborted Attempt:

When person begins to take steps toward making a suicide attempt, but stops themselves before they actually have engaged in any self-destructive behavior. Examples are similar to interrupted attempts, except that the individual stops him/herself, instead of being stopped by something else.

Has there been a time when you started to do something to try to end your life but you stopped yourself before you actually did anything?

If yes, describe:

Yes   No

□   □

Total # of aborted

______

Preparatory Acts or Behavior:

Acts or preparation towards imminently making a suicide attempt. This can include anything beyond a verbalization or thought, such as assembling a specific method (e.g., buying pills, purchasing a gun) or preparing for one’s death by suicide (e.g., giving things away, writing a suicide note).

Have you taken any steps towards making a suicide attempt or preparing to kill yourself (such as collecting pills, getting a gun, giving valuables away or writing a suicide note)?

If yes, describe:

Yes   No

□   □

Suicidal Behavior:

Suicidal behavior was present during the assessment period?

Yes   No

□   □

© 2008 Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc.

Scoring:

Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale Scoring and Data Analysis Guide

Personnel and Training Required

This scale is intended to be used by individuals who have received training in its administration. The questions contained in the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale are suggested probes. Ultimately, the determination of the presence of suicidal ideation or behavior depends on the judgment of the individual administering the scale.

For inquiries and training requirements, please contact posnerk@nyspi.columbia.edu

Equipment Needs

The PhenX Working Group acknowledges these questions can be administered in a computerized or noncomputerized format (i.e., paper-and-pencil instrument). Computer software is necessary to develop computer-assisted instruments. The interviewer will require a laptop computer/handheld computer to administer a computer-assisted questionnaire.

Requirements
Requirement CategoryRequired
Major equipment No
Specialized training No
Specialized requirements for biospecimen collection No
Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an unaffected individual No
Mode of Administration

Interviewer-administered questionnaire

Lifestage

Adult

Participants

Adults, ages 18 and older

Selection Rationale

The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale © (C-SSRS) is widely used in clinical trials, is low burden to participants and researchers, is not proprietary for non-industry-sponsored research, and has training materials available. Additionally, the C-SSRS corresponds to definitions for suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Crosby et al., 2011) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA -Guidance for Industry Suicidal Ideation and Behavior: Prospective Assessment of Occurrence in Clinical Trials Office of Communications, Division of Drug Information Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Food and Drug Administration, 2012).

Language

English, Other languages available at source

Standards
StandardNameIDSource
Human Phenotype Ontology Suicidal Ideation HP:0031594 HPO
caDSR Form PhenX PX640105 - Classification of Suicidal Ideation and Suicidal Behavior Adult Current 6232238 caDSR Form
Derived Variables

None

Process and Review

Not applicable.

Protocol Name from Source

The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)©

Source

The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) is copyrighted by the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc.

For reprints of the C-SSRS contact:

Kelly Posner, PhD

New York State Psychiatric Institute

1051 Riverside Drive

New York City, NY 10032

General References

Crosby, A. E., Ortega, L., & Melanson, C. (2011). Self-directed violence surveillance: Uniform definitions and recommended data elements, Version 1.0. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). (2012). Guidance for industry suicidal ideation and behavior: Prospective assessment of occurrence in clinical trials. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Mundt, J. C., Greist, J. H., Jefferson, J. W., Federico, M., Mann, J. J., & Posner K. (2013). Prediction of suicidal behavior in clinical research by lifetime suicidal ideation and behavior ascertained by the electronic Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 74(9), 887-893.

Posner, K., Brown, G. K., Stanley, B., Brent, D. A., Yershova, K. V., Oquendo, M. A., Currier, G. W., Melvin, G., Greenhill, L., Shen, S., & Mann, J. J. (2011). The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale: Initial validity and internal consistency findings from three multisite studies with adolescents and adults. American Journal of Psychiatry, 168(12), 1266-1277.

Protocol ID

640105

Variables
Export Variables
Variable Name Variable IDVariable DescriptiondbGaP Mapping
PX640105_NonSuicidal_SelfInjurious_Behavior_PastThreeMonths
PX640105140000 Has subject engaged in Non-Suicidal more
Self-Injurious Behavior? show less
N/A
PX640105_SuicidalIdeation_WithIntent_WithoutPlan_PastOneMonth
PX640105070000 Active suicidal thoughts of killing oneself more
and subject reports having some intent to act on such thoughts, as opposed to "I have the thoughts but I definitely will not do anything about them." Have you had these thoughts and had some intention o show less
N/A
PX640105_SuicidalIdeation_WithIntent_WithoutPlan_PastOneMonth_Describe
PX640105080000 Active suicidal thoughts of killing oneself more
and subject reports having some intent to act on such thoughts, as opposed to "I have the thoughts but I definitely will not do anything about them." Have you had these thoughts and had some intention o show less
N/A
PX640105_SuicidalIdeation_WithIntent_WithPlan_PastOneMonth
PX640105090000 Thoughts of killing oneself with details of more
plan fully or partially worked out and subject has some intent to carry it out. Have you started to work out or worked out the details of how to kill yourself? Do you intend to carry out this plan? show less
N/A
PX640105_SuicidalIdeation_WithIntent_WithPlan_PastOneMonth_Describe
PX640105100000 Thoughts of killing oneself with details of more
plan fully or partially worked out and subject has some intent to carry it out. Have you started to work out or worked out the details of how to kill yourself? Do you intend to carry out this plan? If yes, show less
N/A
PX640105_SuicidalIdeation_WithMethods_WithoutIntent_PastOneMonth
PX640105050000 Subject endorses thoughts of suicide and has more
thought of at least one method during the assessment period. This is different than a specific plan with time, place or method details worked out (e.g., thought of method to kill self but not a specific pl show less
N/A
PX640105_SuicidalIdeation_WithMethods_WithoutIntent_PastOneMonth_Describe
PX640105060000 Subject endorses thoughts of suicide and has more
thought of at least one method during the assessment period. This is different than a specific plan with time, place or method details worked out (e.g., thought of method to kill self but not a specific pl show less
N/A
PX640105_SuicidalThoughts_Nonspecific_Active_PastOneMonth
PX640105030000 General, non-specific thoughts of wanting to more
end one's life/commit suicide (e.g., "I've thought about killing myself”) without thoughts of ways to kill oneself/associated methods, intent, or plan during the assessment period. Have you actuall show less
N/A
PX640105_SuicidalThoughts_Nonspecific_Active_PastOneMonth_Describe
PX640105040000 General, non-specific thoughts of wanting to more
end one's life/commit suicide (e.g., "I've thought about killing myself”) without thoughts of ways to kill oneself/associated methods, intent, or plan during the assessment period. Have you actuall show less
N/A
PX640105_Suicidal_Behavior_Present_Assessment_Period
PX640105230000 Suicidal behavior was present during the more
assessment period? show less
N/A
PX640105_Suicide_Aborted_Attempt_PastThreeMonths
PX640105180000 When person begins to take steps toward more
making a suicide attempt, but stops themselves before they actually have engaged in any self-destructive behavior. Examples are similar to interrupted attempts, except that the individual stops him/herself, ins show less
N/A
PX640105_Suicide_Aborted_Attempt_PastThreeMonths_Describe
PX640105190000 When person begins to take steps toward more
making a suicide attempt, but stops themselves before they actually have engaged in any self-destructive behavior. Examples are similar to interrupted attempts, except that the individual stops him/herself, ins show less
N/A
PX640105_Suicide_Aborted_Attempt_TotalNumber_PastThreeMonths
PX640105200000 Total number of aborted N/A
PX640105_Suicide_Actual_Attempt_PastThreeMonths
PX640105110000 A potentially self-injurious act committed more
with at least some wish to die, as a result of act. Behavior was in part thought of as method to kill oneself. Intent does not have to be 100%. If there is any intent/desire to die associated with the act, t show less
N/A
PX640105_Suicide_Actual_Attempt_PastThreeMonths_Description
PX640105120000 A potentially self-injurious act committed more
with at least some wish to die, as a result of act. Behavior was in part thought of as method to kill oneself. Intent does not have to be 100%. If there is any intent/desire to die associated with the act, t show less
N/A
PX640105_Suicide_Actual_Attempt_TotalNumber_PastThreeMonths
PX640105130000 Total number of attempts N/A
PX640105_Suicide_Interrupted_Attempt_PastThreeMonths
PX640105150000 When the person is interrupted (by an more
outside circumstance) from starting the potentially self-injurious act (if not for that, actual attempt would have occurred). Overdose: Person has pills in hand but is stopped from ingesting. Once they ingest any show less
N/A
PX640105_Suicide_Interrupted_Attempt_PastThreeMonths_Describe
PX640105160000 When the person is interrupted (by an more
outside circumstance) from starting the potentially self-injurious act (if not for that, actual attempt would have occurred). Overdose: Person has pills in hand but is stopped from ingesting. Once they ingest any show less
N/A
PX640105_Suicide_Interrupted_Attempt_TotalNumber_PastThreeMonths
PX640105170000 Total number of interrupted N/A
PX640105_Suicide_Preparatory_Acts_Behavior_Lifetime
PX640105210000 Acts or preparation towards imminently more
making a suicide attempt. This can include anything beyond a verbalization or thought, such as assembling a specific method (e.g., buying pills, purchasing a gun) or preparing for one's death by suicide (e.g., show less
N/A
PX640105_Suicide_Preparatory_Acts_Behavior_Lifetime_Describe
PX640105220000 Acts or preparation towards imminently more
making a suicide attempt. This can include anything beyond a verbalization or thought, such as assembling a specific method (e.g., buying pills, purchasing a gun) or preparing for one's death by suicide (e.g., show less
N/A
PX640105_Wish_ToBe_Dead_PastOneMonth
PX640105010000 Subject endorses thoughts about a wish to be more
dead or not alive anymore, or wish to fall asleep and not wake up. Have you wished you were dead or wished you could go to sleep and not wake up? show less
N/A
PX640105_Wish_ToBe_Dead_PastOneMonth_Describe
PX640105020000 Subject endorses thoughts about a wish to be more
dead or not alive anymore, or wish to fall asleep and not wake up. Have you wished you were dead or wished you could go to sleep and not wake up? If yes, describe: show less
N/A
Suicide
Measure Name

Classification of Suicidal Ideation and Suicidal Behavior

Release Date

November 21, 2014

Definition

A questionnaire to assess suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior over a range of time frames.

Purpose

Suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior can indicate an increased risk of suicide attempts and death by suicide. This measure can be used to determine levels of suicide risk and aid in making clinical decisions about care. In contrast to the PhenX measure Intensity of Suicidal Ideation (Continuum), which considers suicidal ideation existing as a continuous scale within a single construct, this measure distinguishes and classifies suicidal ideation and behavior, separately.

Keywords

suicide, suicidal ideation, Suicide behavior, Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale, C-SSRS, World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview, WMH CIDI

Measure Protocols
Protocol ID Protocol Name
640101 Classification of Suicidal Ideation and Suicidal Behavior - Adolescent - Current
640102 Classification of Suicidal Ideation and Suicidal Behavior - Adolescent - Lifetime
640103 Classification of Suicidal Ideation and Suicidal Behavior - Adolescent - Since Last Visit
640104 Classification of Suicidal Ideation and Suicidal Behavior - Adolescent - Epidemiology
640105 Classification of Suicidal Ideation and Suicidal Behavior - Adult - Current
640106 Classification of Suicidal Ideation and Suicidal Behavior - Adult - Lifetime
640107 Classification of Suicidal Ideation and Suicidal Behavior - Adult - Since Last Visit
640108 Classification of Suicidal Ideation and Suicidal Behavior - Adult - Epidemiology
Publications

Sarfan, L. D., et al. (2023) The Transdiagnostic Intervention for Sleep and Circadian Dysfunction (TranS-C) for serious mental illness in community mental health part 1: study protocol for a hybrid type 2 effectiveness-implementation cluster-randomized trial. Trials. 2023 March; 24(1): 198. doi: 10.1186/s13063-023-07148-9

Armey, M. F., et al. (2020) Ecologically assessed affect and suicidal ideation following psychiatric inpatient hospitalization. General Hospital Psychiatry. 2020 March; 63: 89-96. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2018.09.008

Goodman, M., et al. (2020) Group (?Project Life Force?) versus individual suicide safety planning: A randomized clinical trial. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications. 2020 January; 17: 100520. doi: 10.1016/j.conctc.2020.100520

Bryan, C. J., et al. (2019) The PRImary care Screening Methods (PRISM) study: Rationale and design considerations. Contemporary Clinical Trials. 2019 September; 84: 105823. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2019.105823