This score was designed to help assess risk of suicide. However, it has been proven to have very low sensitivity and should not be used to determine if a patient is safe for discharge.
Risk assessment scale for score sum:
- 0–5: May be safe to discharge (depending upon circumstances)
- 6-8: Probably requires psychiatric consultation
- >8: Requires hospital admission
Patterson, WM et al. Evaluation of suicidal patients: the SAD PERSONS scale. Psychosomatics. 1983; 24 (4): 343–5, 348–9.
Bolton, JM et al. Predicting Suicide Attempts With the SAD PERSONS Scale. The J of Clin Psych. 2012; 73 (06): 735–41.
Saunders, K et al. The sad truth about the SADPERSONS Scale: an evaluation of its clinical utility in self-harm patients. Emerg Med J. 2014; 31(10):796-8.