Open AccessThe Concise Health Risk Tracking ‐ Self‐Report (CHRT‐SR)—A measure of suicidal risk: Performance in adolescent outpatients
Author(s) -
Nandy Karabi,
Rush A. John,
Carmody Thomas J.,
Kulikova Alexandra,
Mayes Taryn L.,
Emslie Graham,
Trivedi Madhukar H.
Publication year - 2023
Publication title -
international journal of methods in psychiatric research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.275
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1557-0657
pISSN - 1049-8931
DOI - 10.1002/mpr.1944
Subject(s) - psychology , confirmatory factor analysis , psychometrics , clinical psychology , item response theory , poison control , construct validity , developmental psychology , medicine , structural equation modeling , environmental health , statistics , mathematics
Abstract Objectives The Concise Health Risk Tracking Self‐Report (CHRT‐SR) assesses the risk of suicidal behavior. We report its psychometric properties in a representative sample of adolescent outpatients. Methods A sample ( n = 657) of adolescents (<18 years of age) in primary or psychiatric care completed the 14‐item version of CHRT‐SR at both baseline and within 3 months. To identify an optimal brief solution for the scale, we evaluated the factor structure of CHRT‐SR using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis, and testing measurement invariance across age and gender. The item response theory and classical test theory characteristics of the optimal solution were evaluated. Concurrent validity (both cross‐sectional and as a change measure over time) of the optimal solution was assessed by comparing it to another suicide measure. Results Confirmatory factor analysis identified the 9‐item CHRT‐SR (CHRT‐SR 9 ) as the optimal solution. Classical test theory and item response theory indicated excellent fit. Concurrent validity analyses revealed that it can measure both improvement/worsening of suicidality over time. Conclusion The CHRT‐SR 9 is a brief self‐report with excellent psychometric properties in a sample of adolescents that is sensitive to changes in suicidality over time. Its performance in other populations and ability to predict future suicidal events deserves study.