This study examined higher order personality factors of negative affectivity & disinhibition as well as lower order facets of impulsivity, as prospective predictors of suicide attempts in a predominantly personality disordered sample. Data were analyzed from 701 participants in a longitudinal study with available follow-up data for up 7 years. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to examine the variables. Negative affectivity, disinhibition, & all facets of impulsivity except for sensation seeking were significant in univariate analyses. In multivariate models, only negative affectivity & lack of premeditation remained significant in predicting suicide attempts. (26 refs.)