Medically Serious Suicide Attempts in Personality Disorders

Abstract

Medically serious suicide attempts (MSSA) represent a subgroup of clinically heterogeneous suicidal behaviors very close to suicides. Personality disorders (PD) are highly prevalent among them, together with affective and substance use disorders. However, few studies have specifically analyzed the role of PD in MSSA. These suicide attempts (SA) are usually followed by longer hospitalization periods and may result in severe physical and psychological consequences. The aim of this study is to compare the profile of MSSA patients with and without PD. MSSA were defined according to Beautrais ‘criteria, but had to remain hospitalized ≥48 h. Overall, 168 patients from two public hospitals in Barcelona were evaluated during a three-year period. Mean hospital stay was 23.68 (standard deviation (SD) = 41.14) days. Patients with PD (n = 69) were more likely to be younger, female, make the first and the most serious SA at a younger age, reported recent stressful life-events and more frequently had previous suicide attempts compared to those without PD. However, no differences were found with regards to comorbid diagnoses, current clinical status, features of the attempt, or their impulsivity and hopelessness scores. Therefore, focusing on the subjective, qualitative experiences related to MSSA among PD patients may increase understanding of the reasons contributing to these attempts in order to improve prevention strategies in the future.

Suicide Attempts in a General Hospital: A Case-Control

“…The significance of diagnoses related to substance use disorders and personality disorders in patients with suicide attempts aligns with findings in other studies [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] evaluating suicide attempts at a university hospital.…”

Epidemiology of suicide and suicide attempts in Jahrom district, Southern Iran in light of COVID pandemic: A prospective observational study

“…Several studies have reported the relationship between suicide attempts and personality disorders. [65][66][67] In a meta-analysis study, Pompili et al 68 showed that suicide was the leading cause of death among patients with borderline personality disorder. From 1980 to 2005, on average, 100,000 suicides leading to death worldwide were caused by people with borderline personality disorder.…”

“…The present study showed that 14.85% of suicide attempters had borderline personality disorder. Several studies have reported the relationship between suicide attempts and personality disorders 65–67 …”

A Suicide Attempt Multicomponent Intervention Treatment (SAMIT Program): Study Protocol for a Multicentric Randomised Controlled Trial

“…While deaths by suicide are more frequent among men compared to women, these are more likely to have suicide attempts than men. Signi cantly, they have a similar distribution when it comes to MSSA (14). It is estimated that up to two-thirds of those who complete suicide are not in contact with the mental health services at the time of death (15).…”

“…Suicidal ideation and behaviours are known to be in uenced by gender and sex factors (14)(15)(16)(17). While deaths by suicide are more frequent among men compared to women, these are more likely to have suicide attempts than men.…”