The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C–SSRS)
Instrument Background: Describes the development and usage history of the instrument, including name, authors/developers, purpose, date of publication/revisions, initial and current target populations, and theoretical background.
Reliability and Validity Data: Integrates specific data on the instrument’s reliability and validity, including with specific populations to the degree available.
Comparison with Similar Measures: Contextualizes the instrument’s place among other measures of related or even identical constructs, emphasizing notable research.
Proper Use: Summarizes boundaries around populations, problems, and timing in assessment/therapy that would constitute proper usage of the instrument.
Scoring and Interpretation: Details the proper scoring of the instrument in such a manner that students could score the instrument. Uses specific data, including external research findings, to describe in detail how results can be interpreted.
Integration in Assessment and Therapy: Integrates the interpretation of instrument scores with their place in an assessment context, for example, the role of the BDI in making a formal diagnosis, and a therapeutic context.
Cultural Assumptions of Biases and Cross Cultural Applications: Develops meaningful conclusions, drawing inferences where appropriate, on the cultural assumptions and/or biases in the instrument. Describes in detail the specific steps therapists should take to ensure appropriate interpretation when utilizing the instrument in a cross-cultural setting.
Availability: Describes where the instrument was initially published, and how it can be accessed today, including specific details on purchasing (location and price), licensing (who can use it?), training requirements and opportunities, and copyright
