A comparison of self-harming behaviours in two prevalent groups of psychiatric outpatients

• Author / Creator

  Cristall, Maarit Hannele

• Self-harming behaviours and suicidality are a serious problem in psychiatric patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD). Suicidal behaviours are sometimes seen as manipulative and attention-seeking in BPD patients, and are therefore not considered as dangerous as the same behaviours in MDD patients. The Suicidal Feelings and Self-Harm Questionnaire, which examines suicidal intent, was administered to all new outpatients at the Psychiatric Treatment Clinic in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton, Canada. Thirty-seven percent of the MDD patients, 78% of the BPD patients, and 77% of patients with comorbid MDD and BPD reported a history of self-harm. Suicidal intent was measured by asking the patients whether they expected to die as a result of their self-harm. There was no statistically significant difference between the diagnostic groups in this regard. This suggests that BPD patients are no less serious about their intent to die than those with MDD.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Borderline personality disorder
  • Major depressive disorder
  • Suicidal intent
  • Psychiatric outpatients
  • Self-harming behaviour

• Graduation date

  Spring 2011

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R36G9Z

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.