Self-Injury Implicit Association Test: Comparison of Suicide Attempters and Non-attempters

Given the weaknesses of self-report measures, there has been an increased interest in alternative methods of suicide risk assessment, primarily the implicit measures of suicide risk. This study aimed to determine differences in implicit identification with self-injury and implicit attitude towards self-injury between attempters and non-attempters using the self-injury implicit association test (SI-IAT). The SI-IAT is a computer test designed to measure the implicit associations about self-injury. Participants were 100 forensic and civil inpatients at three psychiatric hospitals. A history of attempted suicide was very common in this sample. All participants completed the SI-IAT. Attempters and non-attempters did not significantly differ with respect to implicit identification with self-injury and implicit attitude towards self-injury. Implications are presented for assessment of suicide risk and future research.