Affective Instability and Suicidal Ideation and Behavior in Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder

This study employed an Experience Sampling Methodology to test whether various elements of affective instability can predict future suicide ideation in patients with borderline personality disorder & a history of recurrent suicidal behaviour. 82 individuals were followed prospectively for one month during which time they recorded their current mood states, 6 times daily over 3 weeks. Accounting for a set of robust suicide risk factors in multiple regression analyses, only negative mood intensity was significantly related to intensity of self-reported suicide ideation & to number of suicidal behaviours over the past year. Other elements of affective instability examined were not associated with future suicide ideation or with recent suicidal behaviour. (36 refs.) JA