Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview—Revised: Development, reliability, and validity.

Abstract

The Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview (SITBI) is a widely used measure of the presence, frequency, and characteristics of suicide and self-harming thoughts and behaviors. In response to advances in the conceptualization of these outcomes, and the potential for online data collection, we created a revised version of the SITBI (SITBI-R) and tested its psychometric properties via in-person interview and online self-report formats. Across two studies, the SITBI-R demonstrated strong psychometric properties for both assessment formats. In Study 1, outcomes measured via the SITBI-R showed convergent validity with those assessed with the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, another interview assessing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The SITBI-R also showed strong alternate-forms reliability across nearly all outcomes assessed via both assessment formats. In Study 2, the SITBI-R showed strong test-retest reliability via the online assessment format. Across both studies, reliability was strongest for more recent outcomes (e.g., past year vs. lifetime) and for more commonly assessed outcomes of suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts than for other, less commonly assessed behaviors (e.g., suicide gestures, interrupted suicide attempts, and aborted suicide attempts). The results of these two studies suggest that the SITBI-R provides reliable and valid measurement of key self-injurious outcomes both in person and online. Public Significance StatementThe present study provides evidence that an updated version of the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview is a reliable and valid measure of a wide range of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors. Moreover, results indicate concordance between online self-report and in-person interview versions of this measure.

Assessing Attentional Bias Toward Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Cues in Young Adults with Histories of Engaging in Self-Harm

“…Nock et al (2007) reported the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview has strong interrater reliability overall (κ = .99) and near perfect agreement on indices of NSSI (κ = .91 to κ = 1.0). These results are consistent with reports from Fox et al (2020), who found near perfect agreement on indices of NSSI (κ = .84).…”

“…), as well data regarding thoughts of engaging in NSSI. The Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview has been administered to both adult and adolescent populations (Fox et al, 2020;Nock et al, 2007). Nock et al (2007) reported the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview has strong interrater reliability overall (κ = .99) and near perfect agreement on indices of NSSI (κ = .91 to κ = 1.0).…”

Suicidal Ideation Among Individuals Who Have Purchased Firearms During COVID-19

“…Suicidal ideation was assessed with the self-report version of the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview-Revised. 20 This tool assesses for suicidal ideation by asking participants to identify which of 8 different suicide-related thoughts they have experienced in their lifetime, the past year, and the past month. For this study, an individual was considered to have suicidal ideation for a given timeframe if they endorsed any of the 8 suiciderelated thoughts during that timeframe.…”

Defeat, Entrapment, and Positive Future Thinking: Examining Key Theoretical Predictors of Suicidal Ideation Among Adolescents

“…and one question assessing lifetime history of suicide attempts (i.e., "Have you ever tried to kill yourself?"). This has been validated in adolescents, and modules for suicidal ideation and attempt reveal perfect interrater reliability for lifetime presence of suicidal ideation and attempt, as well as excellent convergent validity with the SIQ (Fox et al, 2020;Gratch et al, in press).…”