The Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R)

Suicide

Instructions: Please check the number beside the statement or phrase that best applies to you.
1.     Have you ever thought about or attempted to kill yourself? (Check one only)
1. Never
2. It was just a brief passing thought
3a. I have had a plan at least once to kill myself but did not try to do it
3b. I have had a plan at least once to kill myself and really wanted to die
4a. I have attempted to kill myself‚ but did not want to die
4b. I have attempted to kill myself‚ and really hoped to die
2.     How often have you thought about killing yourself in the past year? (Check one only)
1. Never
2. Rarely (1 time)
3. Sometimes (2 times)
4. Often (3-4 times)
5. Very Often (5 or more times)
3.        Have you ever told someone that you were going to commit suicide‚ or that you might do it? (check one only)
1. No
2a Yes‚ at one time‚ but did not really want to die
2b Yes‚ at one time‚ and really wanted to die
3a Yes‚ more than once‚ but did not want to do it
3b Yes‚ more than once‚ and really wanted to do it
4.       How likely is it that you will attempt suicide someday? (check one only)
0. Never
1. No chance at all
2. Rather unlikely
3. Unlikely
4. Likely
5. Rather likely
6. Very likely
© Osman et at (1999) Revised. Permission for use granted by A. Osman. MD
The SBQ-R has 4 items‚ each tapping a different dimension of suicidality
Item 1 taps into lifetime suicide ideation and/or suicide attempt.
Item 2 assesses the frequency of suicidal ideation over the past twelve months.
Item 3 assesses the threat of Suicide attempt.
Item 4 evaluates self-reported likelihood of suicidal behavior in the future.
Clinical Utility
Due to the wording of the four SBQ-R items‚ a broad range of information is obtained in a very brief administration. Responses can be used to identify at-risk Individuals and specific behaviors.
Scoring
See scoring guideline on following page.
Psychometric Properties’
Cutoff score
Sensitivity
Specificity
Adult General Population
>=7
93%
95%
Adult Psychiatric Inpatients
>=8
80%
91%
Osman A‚ Bagge Cl. Guitierrez PM‚ Kooper BA‚ Barrios FX.‚ The Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire- Revised (SBQ-R): Validation with clinical and nonclinical samples‚ Assessment‚ 2001‚ (5)‚ 443-454
SBQ-R – Scoring
Item 1:taps into lifetime suicide ideation and/or suicide attempts
se‎lected response 1
se‎lected response 2
se‎lected response 3a or 3b
1se‎lected response 4a or 4b
Non Suicidal subgroup
Suicide Risk Ideation subgroup
Suicide Plan subgroup
 Suicide Attempt subgroup
1 point
2 point
3 point
4 point
Total Points
Item 2: assesses the frequency of suicidal ideation over the past 12 months
se‎lected response
Never
Rarely (1 time)
Sometimes (2 times)
Often (3-4 times)
Very Often (5 or more times)
1 point
2 point
3 point
4 point
5 point
Total Points
Item 3: taps into the threat of suicide attempt
se‎lected response 1
se‎lected response 2a or 2b
se‎lected response 3a or 3b
1 point
2 point
3 point
Total Points
Item 4: evaluates self-reported likelihood of suicidal behavior in the future
se‎lected response
Never
No chance at all
Rather unlikely
Unlikely
Likely
Rather Likely
Very Likely
0 point
1 point
2 point
3 point
4 point
5 point
6 point
Total Points
Sum all the scores circled/checked by the respondents.
The total score should range from 3-18.    Total Score =
AUC = Area Under the Receiver Operating ch‎aracteristic Curve; the area measures discrimination. that is‚ the ability of the test to correctly classify those with and without the risk. [.90-1.0 = Excellent; .80-.90 = Good; .70-.80 = Fair; .60-.70= Poor)
Sensitivity
Specificity
PPV
AUC
Item 1: a cutoff score of >= 2
• Validation Reference: Adult Inpatient
• Validation Reference: Undergraduate College
0.8
1.00
0.97
1.00
.95
1.00
0.92
1.00
Total SBQ-R : a cutoff score of >=7
• Validation Reference Undergraduate College
0.93
0.95
0.70
0
Total SBQ-R: a cutoff score of >= 8
• Validation Reference: Adult Inpatient
0.80
0.91
0.87
0.89

Cite this article

mohammad looti (2026). The Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R). PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Retrieved from https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/the-suicide-behaviors-questionnaire-revised-sbq-r/

mohammad looti. "The Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R)." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 19 Apr. 2026, https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/the-suicide-behaviors-questionnaire-revised-sbq-r/.

mohammad looti. "The Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R)." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 2026. https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/the-suicide-behaviors-questionnaire-revised-sbq-r/.

mohammad looti (2026) 'The Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R)', PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Available at: https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/the-suicide-behaviors-questionnaire-revised-sbq-r/.

[1] mohammad looti, "The Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R)," PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, vol. X, no. Y, ص Z-Z, April, 2026.

mohammad looti. The Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R). PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. 2026;vol(issue):pages.

Related terms:

  1. Psychological Closeness to Suicide Methods Scale (PCSMS)
  2. Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation (PANSI)
  3. Attitudes Towards Suicide
  4. Suicide Screening Questions
  5. Pierce Suicide Intent Scale
  6. Multi-Attitude Suicide Tendency Scale (MAST)
  7. Fearlessness About Suicide Scale
  8. Bullying Participant Behaviors Questionnaire (BPBQ)
  9. Teaching Behaviors Questionnaire
  10. Adolescent Defending Behaviors Questionnaire (ADBQ)
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