Clinical and Sociodemographic Variables as Risk Factors for Suicidal Behavior in Borderline Personality Disorder: A Restrospective Study

Abstract

Introduction and objective

Suicidal behavior (SB) is nuclear in Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). It is considered a symptom clinically relevant and with an important prognostic value. The literature describes different variables related to SB in BPD such as impulsivity, aggressiveness or hopelessness. There are not hardly any studies focused on the role of sociodemographic variables and their specific relationship with SB in BPD. The objective of this work is to identify which clinical and sociodemographic parameters could act as markers of suicide risk in BPD.

Methods

A cross-sectional, observational, and retrospective study was conducted of a sample of 134 patients diagnosed with BPD. The analysis of the association between variables was carried out with a multivariate negative binomial logistic regression model.

Results

SB is related to the number of siblings with statistical significance. Likewise, a greater number of suicide attempts is significantly associated with female gender, parenthood, permanent work, sick leaves and the number of previous hospital admissions. Both the presence of SB and a greater number of suicide attempts are significantly related to history of trauma in childhood and to the score in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale.

Conclusions

These parameters could act as risk factors for SB in BPD. The role of these variables could be the subject of further research projects in order to identify them in clinical practice.