A New Test for Assessing Suicide Risk

The Suicidal Affect Behaviour Cognition Scale (SABCS) is a more accurate predictor of suicidality than other methods, and has the potential to save lives, according to its developer psychology researcher Dr Keith Harris.
Dr Harris says the tool uses a three-pronged approach, incorporating emotions, behaviours and cognition, to better assess whether someone is contemplating suicide.
“There are countless suicide risk assessments out there, some of them very well-publicised but very poorly formatted or validated,” Dr Harris said.
“For instance, there are some tests where the subject can simply answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to questions and that leaves a lot of room for error about that person’s frame of mind.
“Then you have sliding scales where circling the numeral zero indicates a response of ‘never’ and circling the number one means ‘not at all’. What is the difference?
His questions, while similar to other diagnostic surveys out there, also take into account longer timeframes, because practice has shown that depression is a cyclical experience, and tests such as the Glasgow depression scale only considering a week’s worth of experiences are not an accurate measurement of a person’s intentions.
The Suicidal Affect Behaviour Cognition Scale has questions on a rated scale with detailed explanations to assist the patient in choosing such as this example:
Have you ever thought about or attempted to kill yourself?

• Never (0)


• It was just a brief passing thought (1)


• I have had a plan at least once to kill myself but did not try to do it (2)


• I have attempted to kill myself, but did not want to die (3)


• I have had a plan at least once to kill myself and really wanted to die (4)


• I have attempted to kill myself, and really wanted to die (5)

All questions on the test are:

1. Have you ever thought about or attempted to kill yourself?


2. How often have you thought about killing yourself in the past year?


3. In the past year, have you had an internal debate/argument (in your head) about whether to live or die?


4. Right now, how much do you wish to live?


5. Right now, how much do you wish to die?


6. How likely is it that you will attempt suicide someday?