Questionnaire Items to Identify Suicidality in Perinatal Women: A Delphi Study

Area of Science:

• Perinatal Mental Health
• Suicidality Research
• Psychometric Instrument Development

Background:

• Maternal suicide is a leading cause of death in the perinatal period, with severe consequences.
• Early identification of perinatal suicidality is crucial for timely intervention and support.
• Existing screening tools are not specifically designed for the unique needs of perinatal women.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the content validity, acceptability, and clinical utility of 22 suicide-related items for perinatal women.
• To adapt and develop self-report screening measures for perinatal suicidality.
• To inform the development of effective screening tools for pregnant and postnatal women.

Main Methods:

• A two-round Delphi study involving 30 perinatal mental health and suicidality experts.
• Items were rated on relevance, clarity, acceptability, effectiveness, and feasibility.
• Consensus was defined as ≥70% agreement on all dimensions.

Main Results:

• Fourteen suicide-related items achieved consensus (≥70%) across all evaluated dimensions.
• Twenty-one response scales/items also reached consensus.
• The item 'Have you had thoughts about ending your own life?' ranked highest for identifying suicidal ideation.

Conclusions:

• The development of specifically designed screening measures for perinatal suicidality is warranted.
• Findings will guide the creation of robust screening tools for clinical and research use.
• Emphasizes the importance of addressing perinatal mental health and suicidality information for all women.