The incremental validity of borderline personality disorder relative to major depressive disorder for suicidal ideation and deliberate self-harm in adolescents

J Pers Disord. 2012 Dec;26(6):927-38. doi: 10.1521/pedi.2012.26.6.927.

Abstract

Few studies have examined the relation between suicide-related behaviors and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) in adolescent samples. The current study investigated the incremental validity of BPD relative to Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) for suicide-related behaviors in a psychiatric sample of adolescents at the cross-sectional level of analysis. The sample included N = 156 consecutive admissions (55.1% female; M age = 15.47; SD = 1.41), to the adolescent treatment program of an inpatient treatment facility. Of the sample 19.2% (n = 30) met criteria for BPD on the Child Interview for DSM-IV Borderline Personality Disorder and 39.1% (n = 61) met criteria for MDD on the Computerized Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-IV. Results showed that BPD conferred additional risk for suicidal ideation and deliberate self-harm. Our findings support the clinical impression that BPD should be evaluated in inpatient samples of adolescents either through intake interviews or more structured assessments.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Borderline Personality Disorder / complications*
  • Borderline Personality Disorder / diagnosis
  • Borderline Personality Disorder / psychology
  • Child
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / complications*
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Personality Assessment
  • Psychometrics
  • Self-Injurious Behavior / complications*
  • Self-Injurious Behavior / psychology
  • Suicidal Ideation*
  • Suicide, Attempted / psychology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires