Reasons for suicide attempts and nonsuicidal self-injury in women with borderline personality disorder.

TLDR

It is likely that suicidal and nonsuicidal parasuicide have multiple intents and functions. 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). Participants reported that nonsuicidal self‑injury was most often intended to express anger, punish oneself, generate normal feelings, or distract, whereas suicide attempts were most often intended to make others better off, yet nearly all participants indicated both types were intended to relieve negative emotions.

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.