Pathways to high-lethality suicide attempts in individuals with borderline personality disorder

The purpose of this study was to develop and test a model of high-lethality suicide attempts (HLSA) in individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). An increased number of prior suicide attempts, substance use immediately prior to the attempt, and objective planning were proposed to lead directly to a HLSA, while aggression and impulsivity were hypothesized to lead indirectly to a HLSA through their associations with prior attempts. Path analysis revealed a revised model in which impulsivity was found to be significantly associated with both the lethality of the most recent attempt and the number of prior attempts. These results are discussed in terms of trait and crescendo models of suicidal behavior and their implications for suicide risk assessment among individuals with BPD.