Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation – PANSI
Measures the frequency of positive (protective) and negative (risk) thoughts related to suicide.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation – PANSI was developed by Osman, A., Gutierrez, P. M., Jiandani, J., Kopper, B. A., Barrios, F. X., Linden, S. C., & Truelove, R. S. (2003). It is designed to measure Suicidal Ideation (Positive and Negative). The scale is intended for use with Adolescents and adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 14 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Positive Suicide Ideation, Negative Suicide Ideation.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Positive Suicide Ideation | 2,6,8,12,13,14 | 6 |
| Negative Suicide Ideation | 1,3,4,5,7,9,10,11 | 8 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = None of the time, 2 = Very rarely, 3 = Some of the time, 4 = A good part of the time, 5 = Most of the time.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 8 to 40. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Negative Ideation (Lower Risk): 8 – 13
- Elevated Negative Ideation (Higher Risk): 14 – 40
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha: Positive Ideation = 0.80-0.86, Negative Ideation = 0.91-0.96.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.