Evaluation of suicide risk in children: psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Risk of Suicide Questionnaire (RSQ).

INTRODUCTION: Risk of Suicide Questionnaire (RSQ) is a useful self-administered tool to assess suicide risk among children. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to translate RSQ into Spanish and determine its validity and reliability among Mexican children. METHOD: After a culturally sensitive RSQ items translation, all fifth and sixth grade elementary school students of both genders, from a private educational Institution in Guadalajara (Mexico) whose parents gave informed consent to participate, completed the RSQ Spanish version and the Beck's Depression and Hopelessness Inventories. The parents of the children who had a suicide risk were contacted and invited to come with their child to a subsequent appointment for evaluation and free treatment in the Jalisciense Mental Health Institute. For correlation analysis, item number 9 related to suicide was eliminated. RESULTS: A total sample of 88 students participated. Their mean age was 11.23 +- 0.78 years old, and 55.7 % were male. Mean total scales were as follows: RSQ: 8.3 +- 9.05; depression: 7.4 +- 6.7, and hopelessness: 18 +- 3.3. Cronbach's alpha for RSQ was 0.68. Intra class coefficients correlations between RSQ and depression and hopelessness inventories were 0.74 and 0.52, respectively. Only one of the 56 minors considered to have a certain suicide risk (n=56) came to a professional evaluation with their parents. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of the RSQ showed adequate validity and reliability in Mexican students.