Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Intent in Attempted Suicides

Abstract

124 subjects completed the Eysenck Personality Inventory soon after a suicide attempt. For males there was an association between low intent to die and impulsivity while for both sexes there was an association between recurrent suicide attempts and neuroticism.

Personality traits as correlates of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and suicide completions: a systematic review

“…Hopelessness was also associated with psychoticism (155), another trait found to be higher in substance‐dependent attempters (169, 171), attempters in general (49), and multiple attempters in particular (155). In addition, regardless of the instrument used to measure anxiety, this trait was found to be higher in attempters than in controls across different age groups (49, 131, 158, 186, 193, 196, 198–201).…”

“…Several studies demonstrated that hostility may also be relevant to the risk of suicide attempts (35, 52, 176, 180, 187, 198, 202). In fact, very specific temporal interactions involving three of its components – guilt, resentment, and verbal aggression – correlate strongly with plans or act of suicide (52).…”

Suicide and Personality Traits: A Multicenter Study of Austrian and Italian Psychiatric Patients and Students

“…The authors found that elevated neuroticism was associated with an increased risk of Suicidal Ideation, while elevated neuroticism was associated with a decreased risk for attempted suicide among participants who reported Suicidal Ideation. Furthermore, there is some evidence that neuroticism is elevated among participants who report a past suicide attempt (Draper, Kõlves, De Leo, & Snowdon, ; Dumais et al., ; Fergusson, Beautrais, & Horwood, ) and among individuals who report multiple suicide attempts as compared to those who report one attempt (Pallis & Jenkins, ).…”

Risk Factors for Serious Suicide Attempts among Young People

“…In particular, there have been generally stable and consistent findings to support the view that neuroticism, hopelessness, and locus of control are related to suicidal behavior (Beck, Kovacs, & Weissman, 1975; Colson, 1972; Goldney, 1982; Lester, 1972; Minkoff, Bergman, Beck, & Beck, 1973; Pallis & Jenkins, 1977; Strickland, 1978; Wetzel, Margulies, Davies, & Karam, 1980). There has, however, been less consistency about the role of self‐esteem, impulsiveness, and extraversion (Diekstra, Kienhorst, & de Wilde, 1995; Kienhorst et al, 1992; Pallis & Jenkins, 1977; Patsiokas et al, 1979; Spirito, Brown, Overholser, & Fritz, 1989). The present study may clarify this issue by suggesting that the role of these factors in suicide attempt risk largely reflects their associations with neuroticism, hopelessness, and external locus of control rather than any independent contribution on their part to suicidal behavior.…”