@article{ref1,
title="Narcissistic Personality and Vulnerability to Late-Life Suicidality",
journal="American journal of geriatric psychiatry",
year="2007",
author="Heisel, Marnin J. and Links, P. S. and Conn, David and van Reekum, R. and Flett, Gordon L.",
volume="15",
number="9",
pages="734-741",
abstract="Objective: Narcissistic personality (NP) has been implicated as a potential vulnerability factor for late-life suicide. The present study investigated whether NP increases vulnerability to suicidal ideation and behavior among geriatric depression day-hospital patients. Methods: Using a retrospective database analysis, the authors examined demographic data, diagnostic information, and scores on self-report (Geriatric Depression Scale [GDS]) and clinician-rated depression measures (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression [HAM-D]), for 608 geriatric psychiatry patients 65 years or older. Results: Of the 538 patients meeting study inclusion criteria, 20 had NP, defined as either narcissistic personality disorder (n = 13) or narcissistic personality traits (n = 7). Patients with NP were rated significantly higher on the HAM-D suicide item than those without NP, controlling for age, sex, depression (GDS), and cognitive functioning. Conclusion: Findings suggest that NP may be a clinical marker of elevated suicide risk among depressed older adults. Clinicians are advised to assess the presence of self-pathology and its potential impact upon psychological functioning in depressed older patients, and to incorporate discussions of life transitions into therapeutic work with those at-risk for suicide.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1064-7481",
doi="10.1097/JGP.0b013e3180487caa",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JGP.0b013e3180487caa"
}