C-SSRS
Pronunciation: see-SSRS
Also written as: C-SSRS — Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale
Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale; a standardised, evidence-based tool used to assess and document the severity of suicidal ideation and behaviour in clinical and research settings.
Full Definition
The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) is a structured interview tool developed at Columbia University to provide a common language and a quantifiable measure for suicide risk assessment. It categorises suicidal ideation on a scale from passive ideation to active ideation with plan and intent, and separately documents suicidal behaviour including preparatory acts, interrupted attempts, and completed attempts. In editorial work, C-SSRS must be expanded on first use and the acronym styled with hyphens as shown. Editors should ensure that documentation using C-SSRS terminology adheres to the tool's specific categorical language, as substitutions can misrepresent severity. The scale is mandated or recommended by the FDA and numerous hospital systems, making precision in its documentation critical.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate as 'C-SSRS.' Expand on first use. Preserve the tool's specific categorical language (e.g., 'active ideation with plan and intent') verbatim—do not paraphrase severity levels.
In Context
- "The emergency department nurse administered the C-SSRS, and the editor verified that all ideation and behaviour categories were documented correctly." — Emergency psychiatric assessment
- "Research reports using the C-SSRS must specify the version administered (lifetime or since last visit) in the methods section." — Clinical research report