Predictive validity of the SAD PERSONS and NO HOPE scales in a sample of suicide cases

• DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1554971
• Publication Date: 2025-04-24T05:31:07Z
• Authors: Sergio Sanz-Gómez; Diego De La Vega-...; Adrián Alacreu-Cr...; Jorge Luis Ordoñe...; María Isabel Pere...; Aida Castell-Navarro; Julio Guija; Lucas Giner
• Keywords: Sample (material)

Suicide is a global public health issue necessitating evidence-based prevention strategies. Many individuals who die by suicide have had prior contact with healthcare services. Nearly half visit primary care provider within month before their death, and many emergency departments (EDs) frequently. Effective risk assessment in EDs critical for but remains challenging. Inadequate assessments are common error identified deaths. While clinical interviews vital, scales can support decision-making. The SAD PERSONS NO HOPE widely used limitations predictive value. A case-control study using psychological autopsy (PA) was conducted from 2006 to 2016. Data were collected 662 southern Spain, including 487 cases 175 controls. PAs involved close relatives trained psychiatrists or psychologists. utilised, data analysed sensitivity, specificity, logistic regression develop an improved model. scale showed high specificity low sensitivity predicting risk. In the non-suicide group, 91.6% classified as nearly (49.6%). modified similar results. specificity. An model incorporating key variables both demonstrated higher (93.609%) (91.608%). has effectively risk, particularly due its focus on non-modifiable factors. Adding improves utility. Comprehensive assessments, considering psychological, social, environmental factors, essential accurate evaluation tailored intervention.