While formal diagnostic entities exist in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the evidence is mixed regarding how these and other diagnostic categories, obtained from psychiatric interviews, relate to suicidal behavior and risk factors for suicide (see DSM-IV-TR, APA, 2000; Leboyer et al. 2005). For example, DSM criteria for a psychiatric disorder such as Major Depressive Episode states that a specific number of symptoms (5 or more of 9 symptoms) must be present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms must be either depressed mood or loss of pleasure or interest. Suicidal behavior can include “recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide (DSM-IV-TR, APA, p. 356).” However, this categorical approach does little to quantify depressive and suicidal symptoms on a continuum that is related to risk for suicidal behavior. To assess dimensional aspects of depression and suicidal behavior, specific validated self-report measures should be used. Therefore, since
