MMPI-A Patterns Related to the Endorsement of Suicidal Ideation

Abstract

This study focused on the relationship between the occurrence of specific Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Adolescent (MMPI-A) basic scale profile patterns and the frequency of endorsement of three items related, in varying degrees, to suicide ideation (MMPI-A Items 177, 283, and 399). The research sample consisted of adolescents (n = 348) with diagnoses of depression, conduct disorder, and other psychiatric disorders. Significant relationships were found for the overall MMPI-A basic scale profile, several MMPI-A single scale high points, and specific two-point codetype groupings. Findings revealed higher basic clinical scale profiles for those adolescents endorsing suicidal ideation. Further results revealed lower frequencies of item endorsement for spike 4 and spike 9 profiles, and higher item endorsement frequencies for Scale 2, Scale 8, and for the two-point codetypes of 4-8/8-4, 8-9/9-8 and 6-8/8-6. Issues are discussed related to the clinical usefulness and limitations of the MMPI-A in the assessment and prediction of suicidal ideation and behavior in adolescents.