The recognition of suicide lethality factors by masters and doctoral level psychologists.

Abstract

This study was an investigation of the ability of masters and doctoral level clinical psychologists to recognize several factors indicative of suicide lethality. Suicide lethality factors employed in this study were obtained directly from the Suicide Potential Rating Scale. The scale consists of ten factors that were empirically derived and developed by the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Center. These factors were found by the personnel at the Suicide Prevention Center to differentiate successfully lethal from non-lethal attempters. The subjects in the study (43 masters level psychologists and 30 doctoral level psychologists) completed a thirteen item, four-alternative, multiple-choice questionnaire based on the factors from the Suicide Potential Rating Scale. Analysis of variance revealed that there was no main effect for years of professional experience and type of degree and no significant interaction effect (i.e., there was no significant difference in the ability of the experimental groups to recognize suicide signs). Specific comparisons are also presented and analyzed. Possible reasons for the results of the study are discussed.