Development and Validation of a Multidimensional Capability for Suicide Scale: A Multi-Sample Investigation

Capability for suicide is fundamental when differentiating between those who think about suicide compared to those who make lethal or near-lethal suicide attempts. Although suicidal capability is theorized to have unique subcomponents, the reliable measures of suicidal capability generally focus on single aspects of capability (e.g., fearlessness of death). Thus, the goal of the present research was to develop and present a novel Multidimensional Capability for Suicide Scale (MCSS) across three clinically relevant samples: Sample 1 was composed of participants with elevated levels of psychopathology (N₁ = 513), while Samples 2 to 3 included participants with either current suicidal ideation or a lifetime suicide attempt (N₂ = 489, N₃ = 278). All samples suggested a 16-item measure with four distinct subscales including access to suicidal means, pain tolerance, fearlessness of death, and perceived ability to kill oneself. The final set of items exhibited excellent model fit across each sample and indicated unique associations with various aspects of suicide risk. Thus, the MCSS presents as an improved measurement tool to assess each theorized facet of suicidal capability, providing avenues for future research and treatment regarding suicide assessment, intervention, and prevention.