title: An exploratory study of the relationship between diverse life events and specific personality disorders in a sample of suicide attempters.
abstract: Personality disorder (PD) increases risk for suicidal behavior. Certain life events (LE) can precipitate suicidal behaviors in patients with PD. A fundamental question is whether specific combinations of LE and PD increase suicidal risk. Four hundred forty-six suicide attempters (SA) were recruited from emergency rooms. We used a healthy control group (n = 515) to identify the best cut-off point for the instrument used to diagnose PD. We used the DSM-IV version of the International Personality Disorder Questionnaire-Screening Questionnaire, the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, and the Social Adjustment Scale to assess PD, Axis I disorders, and LE, respectively. After controlling for Axis I disorders, we found that "Death of spouse" preceded suicidal acts in those with antisocial PD (FET p = 0.024) and patients with narcissistic PD attempted suicide after being Fired at work (FET p = 0.002), among others. Our data suggest the presence of particular LE-PD associations in suicide attempters. Some LE-PD relationships appear independent of Axis I disorders in suicide attempters. This may offer a basis for specific targeted therapies or prevention programs aimed at decreasing suicidal risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Avenida de los Reyes Católicos 2, Madrid, Spain. hmblasco@yahoo.es
authors.forename: Hilario
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Blasco-Fontecilla
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baca-Garcia
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Duberstein
authors.forename: M Mercedes
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Perez-Rodriguez
authors.forename: Kanita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dervic
authors.forename: Jeronimo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saiz-Ruiz
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Courtet
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Leon
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Oquendo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003643:Death; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult