ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the predictive validity of the Suicide Probability Scale (SPS). METHOD: Prospective design, predicting subsequent suicide attempts, suicide verbalizations, and minor self-destructive behaviors from SPS scores at admission to a group home in a sample of 855 adolescents. RESULTS: SPS scores significantly predicted all three suicide-relevant measures. Only 48% of subsequent attempts could have been predicted from SPS criteria that would have put 21% of newly admitted adolescents in the at-risk group. Although the prediction is far from perfect, it can prevent some suicide attempts when combined with effective suicide precautions. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first known evidence of predictive validity of any measure of suicide risk in adolescents. Its predictive ability may have been reduced by interventions designed to reduce suicide risk. Despite the large number of false-positives and modest predictive validity, a large body of literature indicates that quantitative predictions perform better than clinical judgments in predicting psychological outcomes. However, the SPS measures only a subset of factors predictive of suicide, including suicidal ideation, hopelessness, and social isolation. Risk factors not assessed by the SPS include previous suicide attempts, conduct disorder, substance abuse, and reasons for living. These additional risk factors may be important to improve upon the predictive validity of the SPS.
Subject(s)
Group Homes , Psychology, Adolescent , Suicide, Attempted , Adolescent , Female , Humans , Male , Prospective Studies , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
The relationships between hopelessness, as measured by Beck's Hopelessness Scale, and scales of the MMPI-2 were assessed. Hopelessness was correlated with scores that measured depression, low self-esteem, emotional or self-alienation, lack of ego mastery, and negative treatment indications. Stepwise multiple regression indicated that subjective depression and negative treatment indicators accounted for 41% of variance in hopelessness. Implications were discussed.
Subject(s)
Depression/psychology , MMPI/statistics & numerical data , Motivation , Adult , Defense Mechanisms , Depression/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Internal-External Control , Male , Prognosis , Psychometrics , Self ConceptABSTRACT
The Chronic Self-Destructiveness Scale (CSDS) and the Psychopathic Deviate and Hypomania scales of the MMPI were administered to 112 delinquent adolescents and to 141 high-school students. Both male and female delinquents reported significantly higher levels of chronic self-destructiveness. Significant positive correlations between the CSDS and the MMPI scales were found for all groups. The results indicate that delinquent males have high levels of chronic self-destructiveness attributable to these personality variables; however, other cultural variables may intervene. The results for delinquent females were similar to those of high-school males. Thus, these findings raise questions about societal influences and the definitions of delinquent behavior.
Subject(s)
Juvenile Delinquency/psychology , Personality Tests , Psychology, Adolescent , Self-Injurious Behavior/psychology , Adolescent , Chronic Disease , Female , Humans , MMPI , Male , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
Scores on the MMPI Dominance (Do) and Dependency (Dy) scales of day-treatment clients were correlated with staff's ratings, age, sex, diagnosis, length of time in day treatment, and level of independent living. A total of 72 subjects, 36 men and 36 women between the ages of 20 and 65 years, completed the MMPI. Day-treatment staff were asked to rate the dependent and dominant characteristics of each subject on a unipolar adjective checklist of 20 10-point scales. Pearson product-moment correlations indicated significant associations between the two scales, between subjects' scores and staff's ratings, and between scores and age. Analysis of variance showed that (a) Dy scale T-scores were significantly higher than Do scale T-scores, (b) women scored higher on Dy and men scored higher on Do, (c) depressed subjects scored higher on Dy than did other diagnostic groups, (d) apartment dwellers scored lower on Dy than did subjects living in either group homes or with their families, and (e) Dy and Do scores did not vary with length of time in day treatment.
Subject(s)
Day Care, Medical/psychology , Dependency, Psychological , Dominance-Subordination , MMPI/statistics & numerical data , Mental Disorders/psychology , Activities of Daily Living/psychology , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Mental Disorders/therapy , Middle Aged , PsychometricsABSTRACT
The efficacy of the Mp and X minus zero scales of the MMPI in identifying fake-good profiles was investigated. 30 volunteers from the admissions unit of a state mental hospital were administered the MMPI once under instructions to fake good and once under standard instructions. Under fake-good instructions, psychiatric inpatients were able to produce profiles similar to those of normal college students. Both the Mp and X minus zero scales discriminated significantly between the standard and fake-good profiles. Interactions with order of administration occurred for the Mp scale.
