Psychology Publications
Improving Risk Assessment with Suicidal Patients: A Preliminary Evaluation of the Clinical Utility of The Scale for Impact of Suicidality - Management, Assessment and Planning of Care (SIS-MAP)
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2010
Journal
Journal of Clinical Psychology Practice
Volume
1
First Page
19
Last Page
26
Abstract
Although a number of suicide risk assessment tools are available to clinicians, the high levels of suicide still evident in society suggest a clear need for new strategies in order to facilitate the prevention of suicidal behaviors. The present study examined the utilization of a new structured clinical interview called the Scale for Impact of Suicidality Management, Assessment and Planning of Care (SIS-MAP). SIS-MAP ratings were obtained from a group of incoming psychiatric patients over a 6-month period at Regional Mental Health Care, St. Thomas, Ontario. A canonical discriminant function analysis resulted in a total 74.0% of original grouped cases correctly classified based on admission status (admitted or not; Wilks Lambda = .749, p< 0.001). The specificity of the scale was 78.1% while the sensitivity of the scale was 66.7%. Additionally, mean total scores on the scale were used to establish clinical cut- offs to facilitate future level of care decisions. Preliminary analysis suggests the SIS-MAP is a valid and reliable tool in determining the level of psychiatric care needed for adults with suicidal ideation.
