Characteristics of Recent Suicide Attempters With and Without Borderline Personality Disorder

Recent suicide attempters with & without a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder were compared. 180 recent suicide attempters, recruited in the emergency department, participated in extensive interviews. Suicide attempters with borderline personality disorder displayed greater severity of overall psychopathology, depression, hopelessness, suicide ideation, past suicide attempts, & had poorer social problem solving skills than those without a borderline personality disorder diagnosis. No differences were found between the groups regarding the intent to die or lethality associated with the index suicide attempt. (53 refs.)