Use of the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation With Psychiatric Inpatients Diagnosed With Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective, or Bipolar Disorders

To ascertain the usefulness of the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation in assessing the severity of suicide ideation in patients who were diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective, or bipolar disorders, 142 inpatients in New Jersey were asked to complete the scale. The total scores on the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation were positively correlated with having ever attempted suicide. According to the scale, 36 patients were classified as current suicide ideators. Results are discussed as supporting the use of this scale with inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective, or bipolar disorders. (19 refs.)