Assessing Suicide Ideation: Comparing Self-Report Versus Clinician Report

The purpose of this study was to examine & compare 2 assessment methods for determining suicidal ideation of patients admitted for treatment of a mood or anxiety disorder. 68 patients treated for mood or anxiety disorders completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) & were assessed by a clinician using an investigator-developed interview schedule. In 80% of cases, responses were in agreement. However disagreement between assessment methods was found for 19.4% of cases. The implications are discussed. (9 refs)