Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder as a Risk Factor for Suicidality in Patients With Borderline Personality...

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are each associated with impulsivity, emotion dysregulation, and an increased prevalence of suicide attempts. It is unclear whether comorbid ADHD heightens suicide risk in individuals with BPD. This study examined suicide attempts among psychiatric outpatients diagnosed with either comorbid BPD and ADHD (n = 54) or BPD without ADHD (n = 330). Patients were assessed with several semistructured interviews. Contrary to our hypothesis, the BPD-only group reported significantly more lifetime suicide attempts, including both high-lethality and low-lethality attempts, than the BPD-ADHD group. Suicidal ideation at the time of the evaluation was also higher in the BPD-only group. The findings suggest that comorbid ADHD does not confer additional suicide risk in patients with BPD.