A 29-year-old woman with a history of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) presents to the PMHNP for a psychiatric evaluation. The PMHNP suspects she has borderline personality disorder. She denies current suicidal ideation but reports having suicidal "feelings" in the past. Which of the following tools will the PMHNP use to determine future suicide risk?
Explanation & Rationale
Choice A reason: The PHQ-9 is a depression screening tool that includes one item on suicidal ideation. While useful for identifying depression and some suicide risk, it is not designed to assess comprehensive suicide risk, especially in individuals with borderline personality disorder. Choice B reason: The SBQ-R is specifically designed to assess suicide risk. It evaluates lifetime suicidal ideation and attempts, frequency of ideation, threat of suicide, and self-reported likelihood of future suicidal behavior. It is validated for use in both clinical and non-clinical populations and is particularly useful in assessing risk in individuals with borderline personality disorder. Choice C reason: The ACSS-FAD measures fearlessness about death, which is a component of the interpersonal theory of suicide. While it provides insight into one aspect of suicide risk, it does not assess overall risk or history of suicidal behavior. Choice D reason: The INQ assesses perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, which are psychological states associated with suicide risk. However, it does not directly evaluate suicidal behavior or intent, making it less comprehensive than the SBQ-R.