[VISCI--Viennese Instrument for Suicidality in Correctional Institutions].

OBJECTIVE The assessment and estimation of suicidal risk constitutes a serious and difficult task for any mental health professional. If we add to this the challenges that may be presented by a specific population at higher risk with little possibilities for thorough psychiatric evaluation, the task appears even more complicated. METHOD The "Viennese Instrument for Suicidality in Correctional Institutions" ("VISCI") presented here is based on the results of a case control study including all suicides in all Austrian jails and prisons between 1975 and 1999 and on research on literature examining suicide prevention in general and prison population in particular. RESULTS Sensitivity and specificity of VISCI are presented. CONCLUSIONS As suicide rates in custody are higher than in the general population, and these rates have been increasing within the last 20 years, the screening of offenders newly admitted to prison for their propensity to suicide is necessary to give a better estimation of the suicide risk and hopefully to stop further increase of suicide rates in jails and prisons.