Dysfunctional personality disorder beliefs and lifetime suicide attempts among psychiatrically hospitalized military personnel

Abstract

Background: Personality disorders (PDs) are associated with an increased risk for suicide. However, the association between PDs and suicide risk has not been examined among military personnel. This study evaluated whether endorsement of different PD dysfunctional beliefs was associated with lifetime suicide attempt status.

Methods and materials: Cross-sectional data were collected during the baseline phase of a randomized controlled trial, evaluating the efficacy of an inpatient cognitive behavior therapy protocol for the prevention of suicide. Participants (N = 185) were military service members admitted for inpatient psychiatric care following a suicide-related event. MANOVA and Poisson regression evaluated the association between each type of PD dysfunctional belief and the number of suicide attempts.

Results: Service members' PBQ subscale scores for borderline (p = 0.049) and histrionic PD dysfunctional beliefs (p = 0.034) significantly differed across those with suicide ideation only, single attempt, and multiple attempts. Upon further analysis, histrionic PD dysfunctional beliefs scores were significantly higher among those with multiple suicide attempts than those with single attempts. One point increase of dependent (Incidence Risk Ratio = 1.04, p = 0.009), narcissistic (IRR = 1.07, p < 0.001), and paranoid PD dysfunctional beliefs (IRR = 1.04, p = 0.002) was associated with a greater number of lifetime suicide attempts.

Conclusions: Assessment and targeting dependent, narcissistic, paranoid, borderline, and histrionic beliefs as part of a psychosocial intervention will be useful.