A validation study on DAS in the prediction of suicidal risk for adolescents

This study investigated the relationships between the predicted suicidal risk in adolescents and the response shown through Silver's Draw-a-Story (DAS) assessment. In addition, the reliability and validity of DAS assessment as a prediction of suicidal risk tool were examined. A total of 413 students from 6 middle schools in a large urban city (Busan) of South Korea participated. The suicidal prediction scale and DAS assessment were used as study instruments. In the emotional content and self-image scores, inter-raters and intra-rater reliabilities were calculated at r = .867–.978 and r = .957–.984, respectively. In terms of the correlation for convergent validity between DAS score and suicidal risk, a negative correlation was observed in both emotional content and self-image. In addition, emotional content score and self-image score differed according with the level of suicidal risk, which therefore validated the DAS assessment. This verification of the reliability and validity of DAS as an assessment tool for predicting the suicidal risk of adolescents will enable DAS assessment to be applied in practical cases of adolescent counseling and psychotherapy.

► There is a correlation between DAS scores and suicidal risk predictors.
► The reliability and validity of DAS as an instrument to measure the suicidal risk of adolescents were confirmed.
► DAS can complement the weakness of written tests in predicting suicidal risk.
► DAS can be utilized as an aid in giving counseling or psychotherapy.