Citation

Yen S, Siegler IC. Arch. Suicide Res. 2003; 7(1): 17-27.

Affiliation

Duke University, Durham, N.C., USA

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13811110301569

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study examines the use of 7 Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI; Hathaway and Briggs, 1940) subscales in their ability to differentiate between male suicide completers and 1) clinically depressed men, and 2) a deceased control group consisting of men who have died of medical causes. Data were collected from a nonclinical student population that was followed longitudinally. The 7 scales, chosen to reflect aspects of coping and emotional resources include two of the original scales, Defensiveness (K), Social Introversion (Si), and supplementary scales: Ego Strength (Es; Barron, 1953), Blaming Self (Bs; Finney, 1965), Impulsivity (Imp; Gough, 1957), Suppression and Outburst of Hostility (Soh; Finney, 1965), and Motivation to Change (Mtc; Volsky, Magom, Norman and Hoyt, 1965). Results indicated that suicide completers had significantly higher scores on Bs and Si when compared with deceased controls. These scales were near significant in differentiating between suicide completers and depressed controls. The results of this study suggest that those who eventually commit suicide may endorse greater tendencies toward self-blame and social introversion during early adulthood.