Personality Disorders and Suicide. A Systematic Review of Psychological Autopsy Studies

This systematic review explores the relationship between personality disorders (PDs) and lethal suicide behavior. Following PRISMA guidelines, the study examines psychological autopsy studies with suicide deaths and identified PDs. Inclusion criteria encompass studies using the psychological autopsy method, reporting PD diagnosis and suicide deaths, in English language and with no temporal restrictions. The search strategy, conducted in PubMed and Embase until December 2nd, 2023, utilized specific terms related to suicide, PD, and psychological autopsy. Quality assessment using the Newcastle Ottawa-Scale for case-control studies was employed.

56 psychological autopsy studies were included in the systematic review, revealing a prevalence of PDs among suicide deaths, and emphasizing their role as significant suicide risk factors.

The review underscores the impact of comorbid PDs and Axis I disorders on suicide risk, particularly if additional stressors are present. Gender differences in PD prevalence are noted, with impulsivity and alcohol abuse identified as universal risk factors. Despite extensive global data collection, limitations include potential methodological variations and biases inherent in psychological autopsy studies. This study, registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022322359), contributes essential insights into the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of PDs among suicide deaths.