SAD PERSONS Scale (Suicide Risk Screen)
SAD PERSONS scale (Patterson 1983): mnemonic 10-item suicide-risk screen, one point each for male Sex, Age <19 or >45, Depression, Previous attempt, Ethanol/substance use, Rational thinking loss, Social supports lacking,…
Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.
Example
- Depression
- Yes
- Previous suicide attempt
- Yes
- Excess alcohol or substance use
- Yes
- Organized plan
- Yes
- No spouse or partner
- Yes
Result: SAD PERSONS 5 of 10 — moderate risk (a screen, not a rule-out).
The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.
What the result means
- Bands
- 0-4 lower, 5-6 moderate, 7-10 high.
- Caution
- LOW sensitivity: a screen to prompt full assessment, never a rule-out or discharge justification. Any acute concern warrants urgent evaluation regardless of score.
What you enter
- Male sex
- Age under 19 or over 45 years
- Depression
- Previous suicide attempt
- Excess alcohol or substance use
- Rational thinking loss (psychosis or organic illness)
- Social supports lacking
- Organized plan
The other 2 fields
- No spouse or partner
- Sickness (chronic or serious illness)
How this is calculated
- Items
- male Sex, Age <19/>45, Depression, Previous attempt, Ethanol/substance, Rational-thinking loss, Social supports lacking, Organized plan, No spouse, Sickness = 0-10.
Patterson WM, Dohn HH, Bird J, Patterson GA. Evaluation of suicidal patients: the SAD PERSONS scale. Psychosomatics. 1983;24(4):343-345,348-349. Read the source ↗
A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.