Global functioning and suicide risk in patients with depression and comorbid borderline personality disorder

Abstract

BackgroundBorderline personality disorder (BPD) and depression are common disabling mental illnesses that are frequently comorbid. There’s limited research investigating specific predictors of suicide in patients with borderline personality disorder and comorbid depression. MethodsThis is a comparative study where 150 patients with depressive disorders and 150 patients with bipolar depression were assessed for the prevalence of BPD. In each group, patients with BPD versus without BPD were evaluated for suicide risk and global functioning. Patients with BPD in the whole sample were also assessed for factors correlated with suicide risk. Results23.3% of patients with DD and 21.3% of patients with bipolar depression had BPD. Among patients with depressive disorders, BPD was associated with higher suicide risk (p < 0.001). Among patients with bipolar depression, BPD was associated with lower global functioning (p = 0.025) and higher suicide risk (p = 0.020). Among the total number of patients with BPD, suicide risk was significantly correlated with higher DSH (r = 0.331, p = 0.006) and lower global functioning (r= -0.368, p = 0.002), but only global functioning predicted suicide (beta= -0.280, p = 0.023, adjusted R2 = 64%, F = 5.433). LimitationsConvenience sampling and not excluding patients with other personality disorders. ConclusionsThis study suggests that BPD is associated with higher risk of suicide in patients with different types of depression. Lower global functioning might predict suicide in patients with BPD and depression. This particular finding points to the importance of the assessment and support of global functioning in patients with BPD and depression.