Efficacy of the millon clinical multiaxial inventory-II in discriminating mental health patients with and without suicidal ideation

A total of 42 mental health clinic patients with suicidal ideation and 89 p atients without suicidal ideation were administered the Millon Clinical Mul tiaxial Inventory-II (MCMI-II; Millon, 1987). All participants were active duty military personnel. A total of 15 MCMI-II scale elevations were signif icantly different between the 2 groups. A pair of discriminant analyses, th e ist utilizing all 25 MCMI-II scales, and the 2nd with only the 13 MCMI-II personality scales, produced correct classification rates of 80.92% and 75 .57%, respectively. A total of 6 of 7 MCMI-II "suicide" items significantly differentiated suicidal ideation and nonsuicidal ideation groups. Results of this study offer initial support for the utility of the MCMI-II as a pot ential screening device for suicidal ideation.