OBJECTIVES: To test whether suicide attempters and suicide gesturers can be clinically differentiated.
METHODS: 150 subjects who had attempted suicide at least once, had made a suicide gesture, had suicidal ideation, and/or had engaged in non-suicidal self-injury were recruited from the inpatient service of the Jiménez Díaz Foundation (Madrid, Spain). A multinomial regression analysis was conducted.
RESULTS: Histrionic and antisocial personality disorders were risk factors specific to suicide gestures. Narcissistic personality disorder was specifically associated with suicide attempts. Borderline personality disorder was associated with both suicide gestures and attempts. A high level of impulsiveness was a risk factor specific to suicide attempts.
CONCLUSION: Suicide attempters and suicide gesturers are two distinct, although partially overlapping populations.