MMPI-2-RF triarchic psychopathy domain scores as concurrent and prospective predictors of suicide ideation and behavior among psychiatric inpatients

Abstract

Existing research from community and forensic samples suggests possible associations between triarchic model of psychopathy traits (Boldness, Meanness, Disinhibition) and suicidal ideation and behavior, but little is known about these associations among those from settings likely to include a significant number of suicidal patients. The present study examined MMPI-2-RF (Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008) triarchic domain scores (Sellbom et al., 2016) and suicidal ideation and behavior among 1098 psychiatric inpatients assessed for suicidal ideation and behavior at admission, two-weeks, three-months, and six months. The sample was evenly split by gender [52.1 % male (n = 572), 47.9 % female (n = 526)] with a mean age of 31.88 (SD = 13.61). Overall, the most consistent associations between triarchic traits and suicidal ideation and behavior were for Boldness, which was negatively correlated with suicidal ideation and behavior for both female and male inpatients at admission (r ≈ −0.20 to −0.30) and, to some extent, at follow-up (r ≈ 0.02 to −0.22). Higher levels of Meanness and Disinhibition were associated with having multiple prior suicide attempts, but only for male inpatients. Regression analyses examining the Boldness by Disinhibition interaction revealed that low Boldness was associated with higher suicidal ideation at all levels of Disinhibition while high Boldness and high Disinhibition was associated with the lowest levels of suicidal ideation. Limitations of the study and clinical implications of the results are discussed.