The Development and the Structure of the Verbal Suicide Scale (VSS) - Measuring Attitudes Toward Suicide in the Group of Patients Hospitalized in the Psychiatric Unit

Abstract

Aim: The assessment of suicidal risk is one of the most difficult diagnostic challenges. The aim of present article is to report the process of development and preliminary validation of the Verbal Suicide Scale.

Material and method: A total of 121 psychiatric inpatients aged 19-67 anonymously completed Verbal Suicide Scale (VSS). The study took place in the Clinic of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw in Mazovia Specialist Health Center in Pruszków, Poland.

Results: Factor analysis validated the three factor structure. Cronbach's alpha reliability for each factor was satisfactory: 0.876 for scale 1, 0.700 for scale 2 and 0.710 for scale 3.

Conclusions: VSS is a short instrument for evaluating the attitude toward suicide and can be a useful tool in mental health nursing practice. Further research and analyses are required to refine the theoretical and external reliability of the method.