II. Approach: C-SSRS Abreviated Screener Version (Emergency Department Use)
- Severity of Suicidal Ideation in the last month
- Score 0: No Suicidal Ideation
- Score 1: Wish to be dead
- Score 2: Non-specific active suicidal thoughts
- Score 3: Active Suicidal Ideation by any method, without a plan, and without intent to act
- Score 4: Active Suicidal Ideation with some intent to act, but without a specific plan
- Score 5: Active Suicidal Ideation with specific plan and intent
- Suicidal Behavior in Lifetime
- Interpretation
- Low Risk: Behavioral health referral at ED discharge
- Score 1-2 on Severity of Suicidal Ideation in past month
- Moderate Risk: Consider Behavioral health consult while in ED (and patient safety precautions)
- Score 3 on Severity of Suicidal Ideation in past month OR
- Any suicidal behavior in lifetime
- High Risk: Medical Provider notification
- Score 4-5 on Severity of Suicidal Ideation in past month OR
- Suicidal behavior in last 3 months
- Low Risk: Behavioral health referral at ED discharge
- Resources
- Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS Screener)
- References
III. Approach: C-SSRS Full Version
- Technique
- Ask Q1, Q2 and Q6 for all patients
- Ask Q3-5 if patient answers yes to Q2
- Ask each question Q1 to Q5 in terms of the last month AND lifetime
- Ask Q6 in terms of the last 3 months and lifetime
- Ask Q1, Q2 and Q6 for all patients
- Criteria
- Q1: Have you WISHED you were dead or wished you could go to sleep and not wake up?
- Q2: Have you had any THOUGHTS of killing yourself? (if yes, ask the following 3 questions)
- Q3: Have you been thinking or PLANNING about how you might do this?
- Q4: Do you have some INTENTION on acting on these thoughts?
- Q5: Have you started to work out or worked out the details of how to kill yourself?
- Q5b: Do you intend to carry out this plan?
- Q6: Have you done anything or started doing anything, or PREPARED to do anything to end your life?
- Interpretation
- High Risk Criteria
- Q4 or Q5 positive in the last month
- Q6 positive in the last 3 months
- Moderate Risk Criteria
- Q3 positive in the last month
- Q4 or Q5 positive at any point in lifetime
- Q6 positive at any point in lifetime (earlier than the last 3 months)
- Low Risk Criteria
- All other answers
- High Risk Criteria
- References