Suicide Screening Questionnaires for Adolescents: A Situational Review
Location
Center for Advanced Learning and Simulation (CALS)
Publication Date
April 2025
Start Date
17-4-2025 8:00 AM
Description
Adolescent suicide is a public health issue. In the early 2000s, suicide was the third leading cause of death among ages 10-24 in the United States (CDC 2008). In the two decades since, despite increased attention and preventative practices, adolescent suicide rates have almost doubled (CDC 2021). Practices intended to improve prevention and assessment of suicide risk are under continuous revision. Some studies have concluded that a more holistic approach to screening may prove beneficial beyond the standard depression questionnaire (Weissinger et. al. 2022). A clear, consistent approach to effectively screening suicidality is critical for early recognition. Early recognition of an elevated suicide risk is an important prevention strategy (CMHS 2001), yet many of the existing screening practices tend to miss a significant proportion of those at risk (Luoma et. al. 2002). Making an informed choice when selecting a suicide assessment questionnaire to employ in a healthcare setting may improve consistency and accuracy of suicide risk evaluation. In this literature review, various practices for screening adolescent suicide risk in a healthcare setting will be compiled based on their applicability, efficacy, and ease of use, with additional consideration for potential situational strengths. The tests discussed will include the Patient Health Questionnaire -9 Adolescent version (PHQ-9A), the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ), the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (SIQ), the Suicide Behavior Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R), the Columbia -Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS), and the Brief Death Implicit Association Task.
Recommended Citation
Ahmed, Mahad and Maher, Megan MD, "Suicide Screening Questionnaires for Adolescents: A Situational Review" (2025). Dept. of Psychiatry Research Symposium. 28.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/psych_rd/2025/presentations/28
Suicide Screening Questionnaires for Adolescents: A Situational Review
Center for Advanced Learning and Simulation (CALS)
Adolescent suicide is a public health issue. In the early 2000s, suicide was the third leading cause of death among ages 10-24 in the United States (CDC 2008). In the two decades since, despite increased attention and preventative practices, adolescent suicide rates have almost doubled (CDC 2021). Practices intended to improve prevention and assessment of suicide risk are under continuous revision. Some studies have concluded that a more holistic approach to screening may prove beneficial beyond the standard depression questionnaire (Weissinger et. al. 2022). A clear, consistent approach to effectively screening suicidality is critical for early recognition. Early recognition of an elevated suicide risk is an important prevention strategy (CMHS 2001), yet many of the existing screening practices tend to miss a significant proportion of those at risk (Luoma et. al. 2002). Making an informed choice when selecting a suicide assessment questionnaire to employ in a healthcare setting may improve consistency and accuracy of suicide risk evaluation. In this literature review, various practices for screening adolescent suicide risk in a healthcare setting will be compiled based on their applicability, efficacy, and ease of use, with additional consideration for potential situational strengths. The tests discussed will include the Patient Health Questionnaire -9 Adolescent version (PHQ-9A), the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ), the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (SIQ), the Suicide Behavior Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R), the Columbia -Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS), and the Brief Death Implicit Association Task.