Validation and psychometric properties of the German Capability for Suicide Questionnaire

Objective

Our study aimed at the validation of the newly developed German Capability for Suicide Questionnaire, the GCSQ. It is supposed to assess both fearlessness of death and pain tolerance, both facets of the acquired capability to commit suicide as postulated by the interpersonal theory of suicide.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted on two clinical (n = 424) and an online sample (n = 532). Factor structure, convergent and discriminant validity, predictive validity as well as test–retest reliability were investigated.

Results

Two factors—“Fearlessness of Death” and “Pain Tolerance”—were derived. One item, the “perceived capability” item, assesses the subject's self-perception of acquired capability. Both subscales and the “perceived capability”-item demonstrate good construct validity and a high test–retest reliability. Fearlessness of death proves to be predictive for the occurrence of suicidal behaviors, whereas the importance of pain tolerance for suicidal behaviors was not confirmed. The subject's perception of his own capability is of high predictive value for both attempt status and suicidal behaviors.

Conclusion

The GCSQ seems to be a useful measure of pain tolerance, fearlessness of death and the self-perception of acquired capability of suicide.