Parasuicide and Personality Disorder: a Review (IN: Suicidal Behaviour in Europe: Recent Research Findings, edited by P Crepet et al)

This article examines the area of personality disorder and parasuicide in order to refute the circularity of a common argument which states that parasuicide is diagnostic of personality disorder and at the same time is also attributable to personality disorder. The difficulties inherent in the asssessment of personality disorder are first enumerated, followed by explorations of the relationship between personality and parasuicide according to five factors: 1) Diagnostic status of the parasuicide population; 2) Parasuicide and axis 1 diagnosis; 3) Repeat attempts; 4) Personality and suicide intent; 5)Cognitions in the personality disordered parasuicide population. (32 refs)