Psychopharmacologic management of suicidality in personality disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To review the evidence for the efficacy of pharmacotherapy and other biological treatments in suicidality associated with personality disorders, chiefly borderline personality disorder.


METHODS
Systematic review of the literature.


RESULTS
Studies evaluating treatment of suicidality in personality disorders are absent. However, several studies examine the efficacy of pharmacotherapy for core symptom clusters that are closely associated with suicidal behaviour. Efficacy exists with transient psychotic episodes, flashbacks and dissociations, affective dysregulation, impulsivity, and anger and hostility.


CONCLUSIONS
Modest efficacy of pharmacologic treatments adjuvant to psychosocial treatments can be shown for clusters of symptoms related to borderline personality disorder.
Cardish
Robert J
RJ
Borderline Personality Disorder Clinic, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario. Robert_Cardish@camh.net
D000465:Algorithms; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D006801:Humans; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000092864:Suicide Prevention