Suicidal imagery in borderline personality disorder and major depressive disorder
File(s)Borderline_Imagery_resubmission.docx (106.03 KB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Schultebraucks, K
Duesenberg, M
Di Simplicio, M
Holmes, EA
Roepke, S
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
A better understanding of suicidal behavior is important to detect suicidality in at-risk populations such as patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Suicidal tendencies are clinically assessed by verbal thoughts rather than specifically asking about mental images. This study examines whether imagery and verbal thoughts about suicide occur and differ between patients with BPD with and without comorbid PTSD compared to patients with MDD (clinical controls). All patient groups experienced suicide-related images. Patients with BPD with comorbid PTSD reported significantly more vivid images than patients with MDD. Severity of suicidal ideation, number of previous suicide attempts and childhood traumata were significantly associated with suicidal imagery across all patient groups. We demonstrate for the first time that suicide-related mental imagery occurs in BPD and is associated with suicidal ideation. This highlight the importance of assessing mental imagery-related to suicide in clinical practice.
Date Issued
2020-08-01
Date Acceptance
2018-06-26
Citation
Journal of Personality Disorders, 2020, 34 (4), pp.546-564
ISSN
0885-579X
Publisher
Guilford Press
Start Page
546
End Page
564
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Personality Disorders
Volume
34
Issue
4
Subjects
1701 Psychology
Psychiatry
Publication Status
Published