Scale for Assessment of Lethality of Suicide Attempt

Kar N, Arun M, Mohanty MK, Bastia BK. Scale for assessment of lethality of suicide attempt. Indian J Psychiatry 2014;56:337-43

8 Pages Posted: 16 Dec 2014

See all articles by Nilamadhab Kar

Nilamadhab Kar

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Mohanram Arun

Kasturba Medical College; JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research - Department of Forensic Medicine

Manoj Mohanty

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)

Binaya Bastia

Smt.B.K.Shah Medical Institute & Research Centre (SBKS)

Date Written: December 1, 2014

Abstract

Background: Lethality of suicidal attempt provides useful information regarding the behavior. There is a perceived need for a clinically useful scale that can be easily adapted to various methods and circumstances of attempt.

Aims: The study intended to develop and test utility of a scale for measuring lethality that can reflect overall clinical observation taking into account various indicators of lethality and which can be used across clinical scenarios involving different methods.

Settings and Design: Cross-sectional study in a hospital.

Materials and Methods: The scale for assessment of lethality of suicide attempt (SALSA) has two components: The first component has four items indicating seriousness of the attempt and its likely consequences and the second component is the global impression of lethality. All the items are scored from 1 to 5, higher scores suggestive of increased lethality. SALSA was used to evaluate lethality of 82 consecutive suicide attempters; and it was compared with lethality of suicide attempt rating scale (LSARS) and risk-rescue rating scale.

Statistical Analysis: Chi-square, t-test, analysis of variance, Cronbach's alpha, binary logistic regression.

Result: There was significant correlation of SALSA score with that of LSARS (r: 0.89) and risk score of risk-rescue rating (r: 0.93, P < 0.001); and negative correlation with rescue score (r: −0.569; P < 0.001). Internal consistency reliability of SALSA was high (Cronbach's alpha: 0.94). Lethality scores of SALSA differentiated known groups with different lethality, e.g. deceased and survived; attempters with different levels of medical intervention: In-patient only, intensive care, ventilator support. SALSA score significantly predicted the lethal outcome (odds ratio: 3.2, confidence interval: 1.12-8.98).

Conclusion: SALSA is a useful instrument for assessment of lethality of suicidal behaviors during clinical evaluations considering the ease of administration, its ability to differentiate clinical groups with known variations of lethality and clinical outcomes.

Keywords: Attempted suicide, lethality, reliability, scale, suicide, validity

Suggested Citation

Kar, Nilamadhab and Arun, Mohanram and Mohanty, Manoj and Bastia, Binaya, Scale for Assessment of Lethality of Suicide Attempt (December 1, 2014). Kar N, Arun M, Mohanty MK, Bastia BK. Scale for assessment of lethality of suicide attempt. Indian J Psychiatry 2014;56:337-43, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2537854

Nilamadhab Kar (Contact Author)

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust ( email )

Greets Green Road
West Bromwich, West Midlands B70 9PL
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=AUEC_rIAAAAJ&hl=en

Mohanram Arun

Kasturba Medical College ( email )

Udupi District
Manipal, Karnataka
India

JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research - Department of Forensic Medicine ( email )

Mysore-Bangalore Road,
Opposite J.S.S.Pharmacy College, Bannimantap,
Mysore, Karnataka 570015
India

Manoj Mohanty

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) ( email )

Aurobindo Marg
Ansari Nagar East
New Delhi, New Delhi 110029
India

Binaya Bastia

Smt.B.K.Shah Medical Institute & Research Centre (SBKS) ( email )

Pipaira
Ta: Waghodia, Dist.Vadodara
Vadodara, Gujarat 391750
India

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