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Personality disorder, personality traits, impulsive violence, and completed suicide in adolescents
D A Brent1, B A Johnson, J Perper
1Allegheny County Coroner's Office.
Objective:
This study was designed to assess the association between personality disorders, personality traits, impulsive violence, and suicide.
Method:
Personality disorders and traits in 43 adolescent suicide victims and 43 community controls were assessed from the parents, using semistructured interviews and self-report forms.
Results:
Probable or definite personality disorders were more common in suicide victims than in controls, particularly Cluster B (impulsive-dramatic) and C type (avoidant-dependent) disorders. Suicide victims also showed greater scores on lifetime aggression, even after controlling for differences in psychopathology between suicides and controls.
Conclusions:
Personality disorders and the tendency to engage in impulsive violence are critical risk factors for completed suicide.