[Predicting risk of suicide in bipolar and unipolar depression: correlation between temperament and personality]

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the roles of personality and affective temperament traits in the prediction of suicide risk in mood disorders. Methods: The participants were 147 psychiatric inpatients with bipolar disorders I and II and major depressive disorder. Patients undertook the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego self-rating questionnaire, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2), and the Beck Hopelessness Scale. Results: Sixty-four subjects were diagnosed with increased suicidal risk based on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Logistic regression analysis resulted in two models predictive of MINI-based suicidal risk: irritable temperament and the MMPI-2 scale. Multiple regression analysis further indicated that higher hyperthymic values are protective against hopelessness, while MINI-based suicidal intent is a predictor of hopelessness. Conclusions: Personality and affective temperament traits may have a role in the prediction of suicide.