Three assessment tools for deliberate self-harm and suicide behavior: evaluation and psychopathological correlates

Abstract

Objective The aims of this study are to adapt two validated self-report questionnaires of deliberate self-harm and suicidal behavior to German, to investigate their psychometric properties and agreement with clinician-administered ratings, and to examine their psychopathological correlates. Methods The Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory [Gratz KL. Measurement of deliberate self-harm: preliminary data on the deliberate self-harm inventory. J Psychopathol Behav 2001;23:253–263] and the Self-Harm Behavior Questionnaire [Guttierez PM, Osman A, Barrios FX, Kopper BA. Development and initial validation of the self-harm behavior questionnaire. J Pers Assess 2001;77:475–490] were completed by 361 patients hospitalized for depressive, anxiety, adjustment, somatoform, and/or eating disorders. A clinician-administered rating scale of self-destructive behavior was included. Psychopathological variables were assessed by standardized questionnaires. Results The self-report questionnaires demonstrated good reliability ( α=.81–.96, split-half r=.78–.98, test–retest r=.65–.91). Reliability of the clinician-administered ratings was acceptable (interrater κ=.46–.77, test–retest κ=.35–.48). Intraclass correlations (ICC=.68) for all three instruments were satisfactory. Rates of self-harm and associations between self-harm and suicidal behaviors are reported. The findings support the hypotheses of a higher degree of psychiatric symptomatology in patients with self-harm behavior compared to those without. Conclusion The two questionnaire adaptations are reliable and valid self-report scales for the assessment of self-harm and past suicidal behavior.