Assessment of suicidal risk using Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory-2 restructured form

Sunhae Kim,Kounseok Lee,Hye-Kyung Lee

doi:10.1186/s12888-020-02495-2

Abstract

BackgroundSuicide is a major social issue, affected by both social and psychopathological factors. This study investigated suicide risk assessment using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF).MethodsData were collected from 7824 college students using the MMPI-2-RF. The participants were classified into high-, moderate-, and low-risk for suicide groups based on their scores on the structured Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) for comparative analysis. The relationships between scores on the Restructured Clinical (RC) Scales of the MMPI-2-RF and suicide risk level were investigated using a multiple logistic regression.ResultsOut of the 7824 participants, 964 (12.3%) were identified as being at risk of suicide. There were 553 participants considered low-risk, 312 moderate-risk, and 99 at high-risk. Suicide risk in the participants tended to increase as RC scale scores increased. Out of the nine RC scales, the Demoralization (RCd) and Negative Emotions (RC7) scale scores were highest across all risk groups. The results of a multiple logistic regression indicated that the Demoralization (RCd) scores were significantly elevated in all three suicide risk groups. Antisocial Behavior (RC4) and Aberrant Experiences (RC8) scale scores were significantly elevated for the low-risk group, whereas Somatic Complaints (RC1) scores were elevated for the moderate-risk group, and Somatic Complaints (RC1), Low Positive Emotions (RC2), Antisocial Behavior (RC4), and Ideas of Persecution (RC6) scale scores were elevated for the high-risk group.ConclusionsCompared to the healthy control group, all three suicide risk groups showed elevated scores on the RC Scales overall, suggesting that various psychopathological factors are involved in the etiology of suicide. More psychopathologic factors were found to influence suicide-related issues in the higher risk groups than lower risk groups, suggesting that more risk factors are involved in higher suicide risk groups. Compared to healthy controls, even the low-risk group showed a significant elevation in emotional factors and antisocial behaviors. While the healthy controls and those at risk of suicide differed significantly on both the Demoralization (RCd) and Negative Emotions (RC7) scales, only the Demoralization (RCd) scale appeared to be able to screen for high suicide risk.

Highlights

Suicide is a major social issue, affected by both social and psychopathological factors
This study investigated the utility of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory2 (MMPI-2)-RF as a suicide risk assessment tool and the variation in the Restructured Clinical (RC) Scales according to suicide risk
The study examined the differences between the RC Scales according to suicide risk level

Summary

Introduction

Suicide is a major social issue, affected by both social and psychopathological factors. The suicide rate for those under the age of 15 years increased by 66.7% in the same year, and suicide has remained the top cause of death among teenagers and those in their 20s and 30s. The suicide mortality rate in Korea, which had been declining steadily over the past few years, increased by 2.3 suicides (9.5%) in 2018 when compared with the value in 2017. The suicide rate increased in individuals of all ages, except those aged 80 years or older, and it was high in teenagers (22.1%) and those in their 40s (13.1%) and 30s (12.2%) [1]. A survey conducted by the American College Health Association in 2015 found that 1.5% of students reported at least one suicide attempt, and 9.8% of the students considered suicide seriously at least once during the past year. Identifying suicide risk factors for early adults is of particular importance [1]

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