The LSARS-II: Lethality of Suicide Attempt Rating Scale-Updated

Abstract

The concept of lethality is essential to the assessment of suicide risk; yet operational definitions of lethality for purposes of its measurement have been loose and varied. A number of scaling measures have been published in the literature, with no relative consensus on the best of these. In addition, only a few of these scales have published data on their psychometric properties. Of these, we argue that the best is the Lethality of Suicide Attempt Rating Scale (LSARS; Smith, Conroy, & Ehler, 1984). Presented here is a significantly revised and redesigned listing of drugs and chemicals and lethal ranges of ingestion (in caps, tabs, or ounces) by body weight to update that scale.