Temperament and personality dimensions in suicidal and nonsuicidal psychiatric inpatients.
BACKGROUND
Suicide is a serious public health problem. In the international literature there is evidence to support the notion that certain temperaments and personality traits are often associated with suicidal behavior.


METHODS
In this study, 150 psychiatric inpatients were investigated using the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego autoquestionnaire, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, 2nd edition (MMPI-2) and the Beck Hopelessness Scale and evaluated for suicide risk by means of the critical items of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview.


RESULTS
Statistical analysis, including logistic regression analysis and multiple regression analysis, showed that suicide risk contributed to the prediction of hopelessness. Among the temperaments, only the hyperthymic temperament, as a protective factor, and the dysthymic/cyclothymic/anxious temperament contributed significantly to the prediction of hopelessness. Irritable temperament and social introversion were predictive factors for suicidal risk. Hopelessness and depression were associated with higher suicidal behavior and ideation, but, unexpectedly, depression as measured by the MMPI did not contribute significantly to the multiple regressions.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study indicated that, although suicidal psychiatric patients have MMPI-2 profiles in the pathological range, they exhibit several differences from nonsuicidal patients. Patients at risk of suicide have specific temperaments as well as personality and defense mechanism profiles. They are more socially introverted, depressed and psychasthenic, and use hysterical and schizoid mechanisms more often. Generalizability of the findings was limited by the small sample size and the mix of bipolar disorder I, bipolar disorder II, major depressive disorder and psychotic disorder patients.
Pompili
Maurizio
M
Department of Psychiatry, Sant'Andrea Hospital, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. maurizio.pompili@uniroma1.it
Rihmer
Zoltán
Z
Akiskal
Hagop S
HS
Innamorati
Marco
M
Iliceto
Paolo
P
Akiskal
Kareen K
KK
Lester
David
D
Narciso
Valentina
V
Ferracuti
Stefano
S
Tatarelli
Roberto
R
De Pisa
Eleonora
E
Girardi
Paolo
P
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012919:Social Behavior; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013694:Temperament