Excitor-Inhibitor Scales of the MMPI and Choice of Method for Suicide: a Pilot Study

The author compared 14 completed suicides by gun with 8 by barbituates or carbon maonoxied in order to compare levels of impulsivity and anger. Scores were compared using the excitor MMPI scale versus the inhibitor MMPI scale. The two groups did no differ in which trype of scale was the highest in the profile, and it was not possible then to distinguish bewteen the men who completed suicide using guns versus those using barbituates/gas on the basis of these scales. (3 refs)