AAS Risk Assessment & Screening Tools 3

Question 1

The Reasons for Living Inventory (RFL) assesses which dimension of suicide risk?

Accepted Answer

Protective cognitions that buffer against suicidal behavior

Answer

The RFL measures beliefs and expectations that deter suicidal behavior, functioning as a protective factor assessment rather than a risk measure.

Question 2

When using the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), a score of 9 or above is associated with:

Accepted Answer

Significantly elevated long-term suicide risk

Answer

Beck's research found BHS scores ≥9 predicted eventual suicide in clinical samples, indicating significantly elevated long-term risk.

Question 3

Which component of a suicide risk assessment specifically evaluates the potential lethality of a plan?

Accepted Answer

Access to and knowledge of means

Answer

Assessing means access and knowledge directly informs how lethal the envisioned plan could be if acted upon.

Question 4

The Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) framework uses the Suicide Status Form (SSF) to:

Accepted Answer

Co-create a crisis plan collaboratively with the patient

Answer

CAMS and the SSF engage the patient as a collaborator in identifying their own suicidal drivers and building a targeted treatment plan.

Question 5

A clinician notes that a patient's suicidal ideation is ego-syntonic. This means:

Accepted Answer

The patient views the ideation as consistent with their goals and values

Answer

Ego-syntonic ideation is experienced as congruent with the self, which generally indicates higher risk than ego-dystonic (distressing) ideation.

(AAS) American Association of Suicidology Certification Practice Test