Testing the Reliability and Validity of Suicide Risk Assessment for Drug Abusers

Abstract

The increasing incidence of suicidal behaviour among drug abuser highlights the pressing need for early detection to prevent potentially fatal consequences. This study focuses on the Drug Abuser Suicide Risk Assessment (DASRA), an instrument developed to assess suicide risk levels in individuals struggling with drug abuser. DASRA consists of two integral psychological components-Psychosocial Disorder and Psychopathology Disorder-comprising a total of 40 items. A sample of 321 drug abuser residing in rehabilitation centres on the East Coast of Malaysia participated as respondents to evaluate the accuracy and effectiveness of the instrument. The construction of DASRA utilized Rasch's Four-level scale approach, supplemented by an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to establish the validity and reliability of each item within the components. Results revealed a robust Cronbach's Alpha value of 0.909 for the entire component, confirming the high reliability of DASRA. Validity assessments, as indicated by factor loading values ranging from 0.556 to 0.880, confirm the acceptability and suitability of the items for the instrument. Pearson's correlation results fell within the range of 0.626 to 0.801, indicating a moderate to strong and positive relationship of the components. DASRA is poised to significantly contribute to addressing the specific needs of drug abuser exhibiting suicide risk, facilitating early intervention, and improving their access to support services. In conclusion, DASRA proves to be a comprehensive assessment tool for detecting suicide risk among drug abuser in rehabilitation centres.