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Beck Suicide Intent Scale
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About Beck Suicide Intent Scale
Scale Name
Beck Suicide Intent Scale
Author Details
Aaron T. Beck, Herman Schuyler, and John Herman
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Beck Suicide Intent Scale (SIS) is a clinician-administered measure designed to assess the intensity of an individual’s intention to die during a suicide attempt. Developed by Aaron T. Beck and colleagues in 1974, the SIS provides a structured approach to understanding the circumstances, planning, and self-perceived lethality surrounding suicidal behavior (Beck, Schuyler & Herman, 1974).
Unlike general measures of suicidal ideation, the SIS focuses specifically on the suicidal act itself, allowing clinicians to evaluate both objective indicators of intent (such as planning and precautions against discovery) and subjective factors (such as the individual’s expectations and emotional state).
The scale has been widely used in both clinical and research contexts to assess suicide risk, predict future attempts, and differentiate between high-intent and low-intent attempts. It has been validated across multiple populations, including adolescents, adults, and psychiatric inpatients.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Type of Assessment: Clinician-administered structured interview.
- Respondent: Individuals who have made a recent suicide attempt or exhibited serious suicidal behavior.
- Items: The SIS includes 15 items divided into two parts:
- Part I (Objective Circumstances, 8 items): Assesses situational and behavioral aspects of the attempt — e.g., planning, precautions against discovery, and method lethality.
- Part II (Subjective Self-Report, 7 items): Assesses personal expectations and intent — e.g., the individual’s desire to die, level of ambivalence, and communication of intent.
- Response Format: Each item is rated on a 3-point scale (0–2), with higher scores indicating greater suicidal intent.
- Scoring:
- Total Score Range: 0–30.
- Interpretation:
- 0–10 = Low intent
- 11–20 = Moderate intent
- 21–30 = High intent
- Administration Time: Approximately 15–20 minutes.
- Professionals: Administered by a trained clinician (e.g., psychologist, psychiatrist, or mental health professional).
Reliability and Validity
- Internal Consistency: Cronbach’s alpha typically ranges between 0.80 and 0.90, indicating strong internal reliability (Beck et al., 1974; Harriss et al., 2005).
- Inter-rater Reliability: High correlation coefficients (r = 0.95–0.99) across independent raters have been reported.
- Construct Validity: The SIS correlates positively with measures of depression severity, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation, such as the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS).
- Predictive Validity: Studies indicate that higher SIS scores are associated with a greater risk of future suicide attempts and completions (Beck, Steer, & Ranieri, 1988; Harriss & Hawton, 2005).
- Cross-Cultural Validity: Adapted versions (e.g., Urdu, Spanish) demonstrate adequate psychometric properties, confirming its usefulness across diverse populations.
Available Versions
20-Items
Reference
Beck, A. T., Schuyler, D., & Herman, I. (1974). Development of suicidal intent scales. Charles Press Publishers.
Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., & Ranieri, W. F. (1988). Scale for suicide ideation: Psychometric properties of a self‐report version. Journal of clinical psychology, 44(4), 499-505.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the purpose of the Beck Suicide Intent Scale?
It assesses the seriousness and planning behind a suicide attempt, distinguishing between self-harm with and without genuine intent to die.
Q2: Can the SIS be used with individuals who have suicidal thoughts but have not attempted suicide?
While designed for post-attempt evaluation, it can informally provide insight into intent strength during suicidal crises, though other tools (e.g., Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation) are more appropriate for ideation.
Q3: Is the SIS suitable for adolescents?
Yes, but with clinical judgment and adaptations for comprehension. It has been successfully used in adolescent psychiatric research with modifications.
Q4: What is the difference between the SIS and the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS)?
The SIS evaluates intent after an attempt, while the BSS assesses current suicidal thoughts and plans.
Q5: How can SIS scores guide intervention?
Higher scores indicate a greater risk for future suicide attempts, necessitating immediate clinical intervention and close follow-up.
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