The Difference in Psychological Characteristics between Suicidal and Non-suicidal Attempt Inpatients with Depressive Disorders : Using MMPI-2

The objective of this study was to explore possible psychological characteristics related to suicide behavior in patients with depressive disorders. Using the MMPI-2, BDI, and HAM-D, results were compared for two groups of namely suicidal and non-suicidal attempt inpatients with depressive disorders(Major Depressive Disorder, Dysthymic Disorder, and Depressive Disorder Not Otherwise Specified) to the exclusion of bipolar disorder and psychiatric feature (n=36). The results showed that suicidal inpatients with depressive disorders were more impulsive, aggressive, and vulnerable to substance use and intoxication, and less anxious, repressive. And the depressive symptoms rated by clinician did not significantly differ in suicidal and non-suicidal group, but suicidal patients exhibited significantly higher score in Self-devaluation and Suicidal ideation, subscale of DEP, depressive content scale of MMPI-2. Therefore, results of the study suggested that a careful exploration of MMPI-2, DEP scale in patients with depressive disorders helps clinicians to identify patients at high suicide risk. Generalization for enough size of patients with depressive disorders should be investigated by inducing additional future evaluation of Suicide.