The Psychache Scale by R. Holden and Hopelessness Scale by A. Beck: Diagnostic capabilities for predicting suicide risk

Abstract

In the current study, we examined psychometric properties of the Russian versions of the Psychache Scale by R. Holden and the Hopelessness Scale by A. Beck. Additionally, we established the cut-off scores for both scales. The normative sample for the first scale comprised 343 individuals, with 281 females (81.9%) and 62 males, with ages ranging from 17 to 25 years (19.6±1.04). For the second scale, the sample included 626 individuals, with 284 females (45.5%) and 340 males (2 participants did not specify their gender). The age range for participants in the second subsample was the same (19.4±0.95). The clinical sample consisted of 146 crisis inpatients aged between 16 and 48 years (23.1±5.9), including 105 females (72%) and 41 males, all of whom reported suicidal ideation. A modern test theory model for rating scales was employed to validate the structure of the questionnaires and establish threshold values. The unidimensional structure of both questionnaires was confirmed: the full version of the Holden’s Psychache Scale and the short version (11 items) of the Beck’s Hopelessness scale. These scales prove to be reliable and valid for identifying suicidal risk among young individuals.