title: Neuroticism and extroversion in suicide attempters aged 75 and above and a general population comparison group.
abstract: Personality traits have been shown to influence suicidal behaviour but the literature on 'older' elderly is sparse. The aim was to compare neuroticism and extroversion in hospitalized suicide attempters aged 75 and above and a general population comparison group. Seventy-two hospitalized suicide attempters (mean age 81 years) were interviewed. Comparison subjects were drawn from participants in population studies on health and ageing. Participants completed the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) and symptoms of depression were rated with the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Depression diagnoses were made in accordance with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition. Attempters scored higher on the neuroticism scale than comparison subjects (mean = 9.9 vs. 7.6, t = 3.74, df = 358, p < 0.001) and lower on the extroversion scale (mean = 10.8 vs. 12.0; t = -2.76, df = 358, p = 0.006). While these differences did not remain after adjustment for major depression, attempters with minor depression were less neurotic than comparison subjects with this diagnosis (mean = 6.6 vs. 11.1, t = -3.35, df = 63, p = 0.001) and a negative association with neuroticism remained in a multivariate model. In conclusion cases scored higher on neuroticism and lower on extroversion compared to comparison subjects. The finding that attempters with minor depression were less neurotic than comparison subjects with this diagnosis was unexpected and needs to be examined in larger samples.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. stefan.wiktorsson@neuro.gu.se
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Wiktorsson
authors: Anne I
authors: AI
authors: Berg
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Billstedt
authors: Paul R
authors: PR
authors: Duberstein
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Marlow
authors: Ingmar
authors: I
authors: Skoog
authors: Margda
authors: M
authors: Waern
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D000075384:Neuroticism; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology