Patterns of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Their Relationship with Suicide Attempts in Youth with Borderline Personality Disorder

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the relationships between patterns of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), their severity, and suicide attempts among 107 youth (aged 15–25 years) with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Two principal patterns were identified via a graphical representation of retrospectively reported 12-month histories of NSSI. These were habitual (NSSI occurring at regular intervals) and random patterns (NSSI inconsistently spaced). Habitual patterns of NSSI were associated with lower severity and fewer suicide attempts than random patterns. Within-person comparisons revealed a reduction in NSSI engaged within a habitual pattern and an increase in NSSI engaged within a random pattern in the month prior to a suicide attempt. Findings suggest that the accuracy of risk assessments among youth with BPD might be improved by identifying an individual’s historical pattern of NSSI, as well as any relative increase in NSSI engaged within a random pattern or relative reduction in NSSI engaged within a habitual pattern.

Keywords:

• borderline personality disorder
• non-suicidal self-injury
• suicide attempt
• youth

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council: [Grant Number APP1061998,APPGNT0628739].

Notes on contributors

Holly E. Andrewes

Holly E. Andrewes, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, and Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

Carol Hulbert

Carol Hulbert, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

Susan M. Cotton

Susan M. Cotton, Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, and Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

Jennifer Betts

Jennifer Betts, Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, and Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

Andrew M. Chanen

Andrew M. Chanen, Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, and Orygen Youth Health, Northwestern Mental Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.