Assessment of suicidal ideation in young men and women: the incremental validity of the MMPI-2 content scales.

This study of 139 women and 75 men investigated the incremental validity of the MMPI-2 in assessing suicidal ideation by examining the unique contribution of the 15 content scales beyond what is provided by the 13 basic validity and clinical scales. A multivariate analysis of variance resulted in a significant difference on the validity, clinical, and content scales for young men and women. Women scored significantly higher than men on the Hypochondriasis, Depression, Conversion Hysteria, and Masculinity-Femininity scales and lower than men on the Hypomania, Fears, Anger, and Type A scales. The results of the hierarchical regression analyses indicated that for women, hopelessness and reasons for living; the Correction, Paranoia, Conversion Hysteria, Psychopathic Deviate, and Hypomania scales; and the Anger content scale contributed significantly to the prediction of suicidal ideation. For men, hopelessness, the Lie and Hypomania scales, and the Type A content scale contributed significantly to the prediction of suicidal ideation. Thus, it would appear that a different pattern of concerns and difficulties are manifested in young men and women related to suicidal ideation. Limitations of the present study and future directions for research are discussed.