ASSESSMENT OF SUICIDAL INTENT BY A VISUAL ANALOG SCALE

The use of a visual analogue scale to assess feelings about living and dying at the time of suicidal acts is described. It appears to have face validity, and the results obtained correlate significantly with those of a validated suicidal intent scale. Of note, is the significant correlation between the visual analogue score and that part of the suicidal intent scale which rates the objective circumstances of the attempt, suggesting that suicidal subjects are aware of their mixed feelings of living and dying, and that their actions approximate these feelings. These findings, coupled with its ease of administration and scoring, suggest that it has a place in the screening of suicidal patients. © 1979 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.