Citation

Hajfiroozabadi M, Mohtashami J, Atashzadeh-Shoorideh F. Iran. J. Psychiatry Behav. Sci. 2022; 16(1).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services)

DOI

10.5812/IJPBS.118312

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is associated with a high risk of suicide. Limited information is available on the individual factors underlying suicidal behaviors, especially suicide attempts (SAs), in Iranian patients with BPD.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the individual factors underlying suicidal behaviors in patients with BPD.

METHODS: This was a qualitative descriptive study that was conducted from May 2020 to February 2021 in Tehran and Karaj, Iran, on 23 participants, including 14 patients with BPD and seven mental health professionals, as well as two members of their families. The research environment included psychiatric inpatient wards, psychiatric emergencies, and psychiatric clinics. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and were analyzed using conventional content analysis.

RESULTS: Data analysis revealed five main themes and 15 sub-themes related to the individual factors underlying the identification and prediction of the risk for suicidal behaviors and SAs. The extracted themes included "psychological pain and loneliness", "defects in the distinction and integration of emotions", "unconventional behavior and emotion", "pervasive incompatibility", and "breakdown of the self-integrity".

CONCLUSIONS: The BPD is a complex and challenging disorder in which patients with BPD usually tend to engage in suicidal behaviors, and with the emergence of individual factors underlying the occurrence of such behaviors, appropriate preventive measures and interventions can be taken to reduce suicide-related behaviors such as suicidal thoughts and planning, as well as SAs. Copyright © 2022, Author(s)

Language: en

Keywords

adolescent; adult; human; Suicide; female; male; suicidal ideation; Suicidal behavior; suicide attempt; Borderline personality disorder; suicidal behavior; qualitative research; Qualitative research; content analysis; substance abuse; alcohol abuse; controlled study; clinical article; human tissue; self concept; hospital patient; problem solving; follow up; mental hospital; borderline state; self esteem; data analysis; Article; mental health care personnel; Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders; semi structured interview; Individual factors; childhood trauma; psychiatric emergency; data accuracy; Self-Injurious behavior; self blame; sense of self