Personality Disorder, Personality Traits, Impulsive Violence, and Completed Suicide in Adolescents

Personality disorders & traits in 43 adolescent suicide victims & 43 community controls were assessed from the parents, using semistructured interviews & self-report forms. Probable or definite personality disorders were more common in suicide victims than in controls, particularly impulsive-dramatic & avoidant-dependent types. Suicide victims also showed greater scores on lifetime aggression, even after controlling for differences in psychopathology between suicides & controls. (41 refs.)