A Scale to Measure the Desire to be Dead. (November 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lester, David
• Is Part Of: Omega. Volume 67:Number 3(2013)
• Page Start: 323
• Page End: 327
• Publication Date: 2013-11
• Subjects: Death -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Bereavement -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Death -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Suicide -- Periodicals; 306.9
• DOI: 10.2190/OM.67.3.e
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0030-2228

Abstract

Andrej Marušič suggested that it might be useful for therapists to assess the wish to be dead in clients, a preliminary step in the pathway to suicide. The aim of the present research was to develop a brief scale to measure the wish to be dead. Two samples of undergraduate students were administered a brief 10-item scale to measure the wish to be dead. The scale had moderately good test-retest reliability and internal consistency (as measured with Cronbach alpha). Scores on the wish to be dead scale had modest correlations with a history of suicidal ideation and attempts and with scores on a scale to measure obsession with death. The wish to be dead scale, therefore, appears to measure a state of mind different from suicidal ideation and obsession with death, has adequate psychometric properties (reliability and validity), and may prove useful for clinical practice and research.