Finally, in the original Beck Hopelessness Scale (Dozois and Covin, 2004), the score ranging from 0 to 3 corresponds to the minimal hopelessness, 4-8 mild hopelessness, 9-14 moderate hopelessness. The validation study and factorial analysis of the Beck's hopelessness scale is presented. Two groups were compared including patients suffering from depression (n = 100) and a control group (n = 93). The Beck Hopelessness Scale is a self-report measure for adults age 17 to 80. It assesses an individual’s negative expectations about the future. The measure includes 20 items to which participants respond with “true” or “false.” It takes five to 10 minutes to complete.
The Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) is a questionnaire in which a patient answers 'true' or 'false' to a series of 20 statements that test his or her feelings about the future. The purpose of completing the questionnaire is to determine the likelihood that a particular person will attempt suicide. Since the Beck Hopelessness Scale was first tested and used, it has proved to be a valuable tool with a high level of accuracy when attempting to determine a person's risk of suicide. The scale is a derivation of the Beck Depression Inventory, another test used to determine the level of depression a patient is experiencing.
Patients utilizing the scale respond to a series of 20 statements that are phrased in the first person. The patient classifies each statement as true or false, assessing his or her own feelings. At the end, the responses to the statements are totaled according to a key to find the patient's rank on the Hopelessness Scale; a higher number indicates a higher risk of suicide.
The scale rates the patient’s potential for suicide as one of four possible results. A score of 3 or lower means there is a minimal risk of suicide. A score between 4 and 8 indicates a mild risk. Scores that range from 9 to 14 indicate a moderate chance of suicide, while scores of 15 or higher show a severe risk of suicide. The reliability of the Beck Hopelessness Scale is very high and has been shown to be a very good assessment of risk.
More than half the assessment statements on the Beck Hopelessness Scale were adapted from statements actually made by psychiatric patients who were diagnosed as being in a depressed and hopeless frame of mind. The remaining questions on the test were constructed as being neutral statements relating to hopeless attitudes about the future. Through peer review, the statements were carefully scrutinized and reworded to be as clear and neutral as possible.
The Beck Hopelessness Scale was tested extensively on groups of patients who were in high-risk groups. It also was later tested on groups that were substance abusers, excluding alcoholics. The questionnaire was shown to be highly accurate when administered to high-risk patients and drug users who were adults. The validity of the test is unknown for children and is slightly less accurate when given to patients who are not in a group that is at a high risk for suicide.
Beck Hopelessness Scale Online Test
Examinees would have to be honest and prepared to answer as truthfully as possible. b) Optimal setting for administration would have to be one where the Examinee is comfortable and able to reflect and respond appropriately to the questionnaire. c) No exact “reading level” was mentioned or recommended but in order to answer the questions, examinees would have to have average reading skills to finish and understand the material presented. d) Recommendations are to see greater variety in the types of norms that are used as well as a larger size other than just seven groups (Mental Measurements Yearbook, 1992). Also, see Question 4 7) Recommended interpretation of the test data for: * All major Scales * Any subscales 8) Training needed to administer the test; Training needed to interpret the test. Do these differ? * Training to administer the test and score the test is not needed and can be done so by paraprofessionals. However, the data collected after the administration and scoring of the test have been done; the information must be interpreted and only used by a clinically trained professional. The reason why, is because clinically trained professionals are the only ones that can implement and apply psychotherapeutic interventions. * These two differ very much so because while one is doing the task of providing the