Background:
This study aims to develop the construct of a ‘suicide trigger state’ by exploring data gathered with a novel psychometric self-report instrument, the STS-2.
Methods:
The STS-2, was administered to 141 adult psychiatric patients with suicidal ideation. Multiple statistical methods were used to explore construct validity and structure.
Results:
Cronbach’s alpha (0.949) demonstrated excellent internal consistency. Factor analyses yielded two-component solutions with good agreement. The first component described near-psychotic somatization and ruminative flooding, while the second described frantic hopelessness. ROC analysis determined an optimal cut score for a history of suicide attempt, with significance of p<0.03. Logistic regression analysis found items sensitive to history of suicide attempt described ruminative flooding, doom, hopelessness, entrapment and dread.
Conclusions:
The STS-2 appears to measure a distinct and novel clinical entity, which we speculatively term the ‘suicide trigger state.’ High scores on the STS-2 associate with reported history of past suicide attempt.