Title

Five-Year Prospective Investigation of Deliberate Self-Harm in the Development of Borderline Personality Disorder

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment

Volume

8

Publication Date

1-1-2017

First Page

183

Last Page

188

Abstract

Although borderline personality disorder (BPD) is frequently characterized by nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior (NSSI), suicide attempts (SA), suicidal ideation (SI), and/or suicide threats (ST), it is unclear whether these behaviors are precursors of BPD in adolescence. This study examined self-harm/suicide-related behaviors in the development of BPD from adolescence to adulthood in psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents. Participants were 116 adolescents consecutively admitted for a psychiatric hospitalization for self-harm/suicide-related behaviors. Adolescents completed self-report questionnaires assessing self-harm/suicide-related behaviors, maladaptive familial behavior, and peer victimization upon admission. Admission diagnoses and history of sexual/physical abuse were abstracted from medical/psychiatric records. Five years after index hospitalization, medical/psychiatric records were systematically reviewed and information on diagnoses was collected. Using multivariable logistic regression analyses, ST predicted BPD above and beyond NSSI, SA, and SI 5 years later (odds ratio = 1.31, 95% confidence interval [1.06, 1.62], p > .01). Traditional risk factors of BPD were not predictive of BPD at 5-year follow-up. Suicidal threats are an important risk factor in adolescents who engage in self-harm/suicide-related behaviors that may differentiate those adolescents who go on to develop BPD as adults. Implications for research and treatment are discussed.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS