Final answer:
The intensity of ideation refers to the severity of a person's thoughts, evaluated primarily in psychological health contexts such as self harm or obsessive ideation. Health professionals assess it using specific scales to determine the appropriate level of care.
Step-by-step explanation:
The intensity of ideation should be rated with respect to the most severe type of ideations. This concept is generally assessed in psychological health evaluations to understand the severity of a person's thoughts, particularly when addressing issues like self harm ideation or obsessive thoughts. The severity of such ideations can range from fleeting thoughts without any plan to decisive planning with intent. Health professionals use different scales and methodologies to assess the intensity and risk associated with these ideations to provide appropriate care.