The construct and measurement of suicide-related coping

Abstract

Enhancing the ability to cope with suicidal thoughts, urges, and crises is a key component of therapeutic work with suicidal patients. Suicide-related coping can serve as a treatment target, can provide an additional component in the evaluation of suicidal patients, and can serve as an outcome in randomized controlled trials for the prevention of suicide. However, to date, psychometrically sound measures to assess suicide-related coping are lacking. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of a new measure, the Suicide-Related Coping Scale (SRCS). Adult patients who were either admitted to a psychiatric inpatient unit (n = 97) or an Emergency Department (n = 232) for suicide-related concerns were enrolled in this study. All were administered the SRCS at baseline and at one month. Factor analyses and internal consistency analyses were conducted. Additional measures were administered to assess convergent and divergent validity. Factor analysis of the SRCS revealed two factors, internal and external coping strategies. The SRCS had high internal consistency, good convergent validity and was sensitive to change. Suicide-related coping is a promising construct as measured by the SRCS to assess suicide-related coping in both clinical practice and trials.