Predicting the Level of Suicide Risk with the MMPI-3

Death by suicide is a global problem. Indeed, it is one of the leading causes of death in young people, and risk factors for suicide have continued to increase in recent years. Although interventions have been a primary focus of researchers and clinicians, research has also addressed the accurate assessment of risk for suicide. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory - 3 (MMPI-3), the most recent version of the MMPI family of instruments, is one of the most widely used psychological assessments in a multitude of settings. The current study examined the ability of the Suicidal/Death Ideation (SUI) scale on the MMPI-3 to classify the level of suicide risk as determined clinically, using a semi-structured clinical interview associated with the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide. Our results, if corroborated by future studies in higher-acuity settings, may lead to further interpretive statements at higher levels of elevation on the SUI scale.