Shame-proneness touches the relationship between pathological narcissism and suicide ideation

Suicidal ideation and behavior have a marked prevalence in several cluster B personality disorders (e.g., Borderline and narcissistic personality disorders according to the last versions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders), compared to others. Intense feelings of shame can often be found in individuals with narcissistic personality disorder and may play a role in suicidal behavior. To explore the relationship between narcissism, shame and suicide ideation, Pathological Narcissism Inventory, Test of Self Conscious Affects and Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation were administered to a sample of individuals with suicide ideation (N=68; Mage=35,18, SD=15,62; 44,1% males) and a sample of community participants (N=153; Mage=27,41, SD=12,17; 41,2% males). Controlling for age and gender, we found that Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation scores were significantly associated with narcissistic vulnerability and interpersonal shame. In the clinical sample, interpersonal shame partially mediated the relationship between the vulnerability facet of narcissism and suicidal ideation. Shame seems to have a crucial role in the relationship between the vulnerability facet of narcissism and suicidal ideation, although its complex influence remains to be understood. Clinicians may want to pay attention to intense shame feelings in individuals with vulnerable narcissism that may lead to decompensation and increase suicide risk.