Psychometric properties of the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire.

In order to assess the reliability and validity of Cole's (1988) four-item version of the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire (SBQ), 57 clinical outpatients completed it and the Reasons for Living Inventory (RFL), and 86 undergraduates completed it and the Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI). Two weeks later, 30 undergraduates completed the SBQ again. Cronbach alphas were moderate (clinical sample = .75; nonclinical sample = .80). Test--retest correlations were also significant (r = .95). The SBQ and SSI were significantly correlated (r = .69). The SBQ and RFL were also significantly correlated (r = -.34), although modestly. In view of its moderate to strong reliability, its construct and fact validity, its ease of administration and scoring, and its brevity, the SBQ is recommended as a brief screening instrument for suicidality for researchers and clinicians.