Comorbid personality disorder predicts suicide after major depression: a 10-year follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To identify psychopathological predictors for suicide in a population of major depressed Diagnostic Statistical Manual-III (DSM-III) in-patients.


METHODS
A total of 210 previous participants in multicentre antidepressant drug trials, carried out in a randomized double-blind design, were followed prospectively through a maximum of 10 years. Patients with a drug or alcohol abuse were excluded. The association between suicide and the pretreatment psychopathological profile was analysed using survival statistics.


RESULTS
The suicide rate for non-melancholic depressed patients was significantly higher than for melancholic depressed patients. Comorbid personality disorder was independently associated with an increased suicide rate [relative hazard 3.41(CI: 1.15-10.10)].


CONCLUSIONS
The study indicates that the non-melancholic aspect of depression, and especially comorbid personality disorder, is associated with an increased suicidal vulnerability.
Hansen
P E B
PE
Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Hospital in Aarhus, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. peh@psykiatri.aaa.dk
Wang
A G
AG
Stage
K B
KB
Kragh-Sorensen
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*