The role of borderline personality disorder characteristics as a predictor of suicidal ideation in patients with bipolar disorder

Background and Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of borderline personality disorder (BPD) characteristics as a predictor of suicidal in patients with bipolar disorder. Method:  This research was a cross-sectional study and the people who were selected were 50 (25 women, 25 men) who were hospitalized in Shahid Beheshti hospital. They had referred to the psychiatrists and clinical psychologists and received bipolar disorder diagnosis. They were examined using structural clinical interview for DSM disorders (SCID-I) and borderline personality questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods and inferential statistics including independent t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient and Multivariate regression analysis with stepwise method. Findings:  The results indicate that there is a significant relationship between borderline personality characteristics and suicidal ideations in patients with bipolar disorder.  Pearson correlation coefficient results illustrated that there is a positive and significant relationship between the components of primary defense mechanisms and suicidal ideations in patients with bipolar disorder. The results demonstrate that the type of mood disorder along with borderline personality and gender are not determinants of suicidal ideations in patients but there is a relationship between borderline personality and suicidal ideations in bipolar patients. Conclusion: Although the current design of the causal model is not comparative and does not show causal relationships, according to the chronological order of each variable formation, causal inference can also be the case. So that borderline personality disorder and its characteristics can lead to suicidal ideations in bipolar disorder patients.