RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE AND TOPOGRAPHY OF PARASUICIDE AMONG WOMEN WITH BORDERLINE PERSONALITY-DISORDER

The association between borderline personality disorder (BPD), childhood sexual abuse, and topography of parasuicidal behavior was investigated. Subjects were 37 outpatient women meeting DSM-III-R (American Psychiatric Association, 1987) and Gunderson's (Gunderson, Kolb, & Austin, 1981) criteria for BPD, who had at least two instances of parasuicidal behavior. Seventy-six percent of this group reported a history of some type of childhood sexual abuse. It was predicted that women with a history of sexual abuse would report parasuicidal behavior that was more lethal, with higher suicide intent, higher medical severity, lower impulsivity, and lower instrumental intent. It was found that BPD individuals who report a history of childhood sexual abuse engaged in parasuicide that was more lethal than that of women who did not report abuse.