Neuroticism and extroversion in suicide attempters aged 75 and above and a general population comparison group

Abstract

Personality traits have been shown to influence suicidal behaviour but the literature on ‘older’ elderly is sparse. The aim was to compare neuroticism and extroversion in hospitalized suicide attempters aged 75 and above and a general population comparison group. Seventy-two hospitalized suicide attempters (mean age 81 years) were interviewed. Comparison subjects were drawn from participants in population studies on health and ageing. Participants completed the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) and symptoms of depression were rated with the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Depression diagnoses were made in accordance with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition. Attempters scored higher on the neuroticism scale than comparison subjects (mean = 9.9 vs. 7.6, t = 3.74, df = 358, p < 0.001) and lower on the extroversion scale (mean = 10.8 vs. 12.0; t = −2.76, df = 358, p = 0.006). While these differences did not remain after adjustment for major depression, attempters with minor depression were less neurotic than comparison subjects with this diagnosis (mean = 6.6 vs. 11.1, t = −3.35, df = 63, p = 0.001) and a negative association with neuroticism remained in a multivariate model. In conclusion cases scored higher on neuroticism and lower on extroversion compared to comparison subjects. The finding that attempters with minor depression were less neurotic than comparison subjects with this diagnosis was unexpected and needs to be examined in larger samples.

Keywords:

• elderly
• suicide attempters
• neuroticism
• extroversion
• depression

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank all study participants and hospital staff. They also thank Kristoffer Bäckman and Erik Joas for consultation regarding statistical issues. Data regarding national and regional suicide rates were kindly provided by the National Centre for Prevention of Suicide and Mental Ill-Health.

Funding

The study was supported by grants from the Swedish Research Council 11267, 2005-8460, 825-2007-7462; the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (no 2001-2835, 2001-2646, 2002-0153, 2003-0234, 2004-0150, 2006-0020, 2008-1229, 2004-0145, 2006-0596, 2008-1111; the Alzheimer's Association Stephanie B. Overstreet Scholars (IIRG-00-2159); the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation; the Söderström-König Foundation; the Thuring Foundation; the Hjalmar Svensson Research Fund; the Organon Foundation; the Axel Linder Foundation and the Wilhelm and Martina Lundgren Foundation. The funding sources had no role in the study design, the data collection, the analyses and interpretation of data, the writing of the report or in the decision of submit the paper for publication.

Conflict of interest: The authors disclose no conflict of interest.