Test Linking of Suicide Risk Assessment Instruments: Comparing Cut-Off Scores for Suicide Risk

Abstract

Background: Communicating the objective meaning of the cut-off criteria for high-risk among suicide risk assessment tools is challenging because they measure different aspects of suicide risk. This study aimed to provide comparable scores among widely used suicide assessment instruments by using test linking.Methods: Linking was performed using the equipercentile method with the data of 400 adults. Then, for an independent sample of 165 adults, the validity of linking was tested by providing an overall percent agreement of group classification.Results: Linking results indicated that the score of 4 on the C-SSRS corresponded to 8 on the DSI-SS and 16 on the SBQ-R, respectively. The overall percent agreement of group classification based on the cutoff score of 4 on the C-SSRS was high in both scales, supporting the validity of linking.Conclusions: The study results provide comparable criteria for the high-risk group among the three measures. Mental health practitioners could utilize our results in identifying people at high suicide risk.