Psychometric Evaluation of the Revised Suicide Crisis Inventory (SCI-2) in Germany: Factor Structure, Reliability, and Validity in an Online and Outpatient Sample

Background

The suicide crisis syndrome (SCS) is considered a cognitive and affective state preceding a suicide attempt. Previous studies have demonstrated its predictive validity and have shown it to be a uniform disorder entity in various countries worldwide; however, research in Europe remains limited. The aim of this study was therefore to contribute to a cross-cultural perspective on the SCS and to examine its factor structure, reliability, and validity in Germany.

Methods

Data of N = 1157 participants were collected between October 2022 and December 2024 cross-sectionally from a German adult outpatient sample (n = 586; 65% female; age: M[SD] = 36.31[12.80], range: 18–68) and a German adult online sample (n = 571; 74% female; age: M[SD] = 24.69[7.20], range: 18–67). Participants completed the German version of the revised 61-item Suicide Crisis Inventory (SCI-2-G) and other instruments (e.g., SIBS, BDI-II, and DASS) to measure convergent and concurrent criterion validity. Statistical analyses included confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) to confirm the proposed factors (entrapment, affective disturbance, loss of cognitive control, hyperarousal, and social withdrawal).

Results

The SCI-2-G total score demonstrated excellent internal consistency, good convergent, and moderate concurrent criterion validity in relation to stress, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and lifetime suicide attempts. The CFA showed good model fit for the online sample and adequate-to-good fit for the outpatient sample, with the five-factor model consistently outperforming the one-factor model.

Conclusion

CFA yielded adequate-to-good model fit depending on the sample. Analyses indicate that the SCI-2 is a valid measurement tool in Germany. The five-factor solution is suggested to have higher clinical utility than a one-factor solution, as it reflects the current formulation of the proposed SCS diagnosis. Future studies should expand the cross-cultural perspective with longitudinal studies across diverse clinical and nonclinical samples.

Summary

• First validation of the German revised version Suicide Crisis Inventory (SCI-2-G).
• Confirmatory factor analyses support the five-factor solution of the scale.
• Good scale properties for an online and outpatient sample in Germany.