Screening for Suicide Among Juvenile Delinquents: Reliability and Validity Evidence for the Suicide Screening Inventory (SSI)

This study tested the reliability & validity of a new instrument for assessing suicidality in adjudicated delinquents. The Suicide Screening Inventory, a 14-item, interview, was evaluated based on archival data from 442 adolescents, primarily male, between the ages of 12 & 20. Two estimates of reliability indicated moderate internal consistency. Expert rating of the instrument’s utility also provided content validity evidence. Descriptive data were collected on 4 youth who attempted suicide. Elevated scores for these cases provided some evidence for consequential validity. Results are discussed with regard to practical & research implications. (25 refs.)