title: Reasons for suicide attempts and nonsuicidal self-injury in women with borderline personality disorder.
abstract: Self-reported reasons for suicide attempts and nonsuicidal self-injury were examined using the Parasuicide History Interview within a sample of chronically suicidal women meeting criteria for borderline personality disorder (N = 75). Overall, reasons given for suicide attempts differed from reasons for nonsuicidal self-injury. Nonsuicidal acts were more often reported as intended to express anger, punish oneself, generate normal feelings, and distract oneself, whereas suicide attempts were more often reported as intended to make others better off. Almost all participants reported that both types of parasuicide were intended to relieve negative emotions. It is likely that suicidal and nonsuicidal parasuicide have multiple intents and functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195-1525, USA.
authors.forename: Milton Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Katherine Anne
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Comtois
authors.forename: Marsha M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Linehan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*