Male Depression Subtypes and Suicidality: Latent Profile Analysis of Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms in a Representative Canadian Sample

Assessment of men's externalizing symptoms has been theorized to assist in the identification of those at risk of suicide. A nationally representative sample of Canadian men (N = 1000; mean, 49.63 years) provided data on internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and history of recent suicide planning and attempt (previous 4 weeks). Latent profile analysis indicted three classification subtypes. Robust effects were observed regarding history of recent suicide planning and attempt. Men with a marked externalizing profile (12.7% of sample), which included substance use, anger, and risk taking, were significantly more likely to have had a recent suicide plan (risk ratio, 14.47; p < 0.001) or to have attempted suicide within the previous 4 weeks (risk ratio, 21.32; p < 0.001) relative to asymptomatic men (67.7% of sample). Because recent suicide attempt was a rare event in the present sample (n = 13), findings need to be replicated in higher-risk populations. Results support primary care screening for both men's internalizing and externalizing depression symptoms.