Personality Disorders Pose a Higher Suicide Risk Than Depression

2025.04.17  96

A research team led by Professor Hongjin Jeon from the Department of Psychiatry at Samsung Medical Center, with Professor Hyewon Kim of Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital as first author and Professor Kyeongdo Han from Soongsil University's Department of Information, Statistics, and Actuarial Science as co-corresponding author, published a study on suicide risk associated with mental illnesses in the latest issue of the international journal Molecular Psychiatry (Impact Factor: 9.6).

Although depression is widely recognized as a major risk factor for suicide, recent findings suggest that the presence of a personality disorder is associated with an even greater risk. Personality disorders are characterized by persistent patterns of maladaptive thinking, emotional responses, and behavior that significantly disrupt interpersonal relationships and occupational functioning.

The research team found that individuals with personality disorders exhibited the highest suicide risk, with a relative risk 7.7 times greater than that of healthy individuals. This was followed by bipolar disorder (6.05 times higher), and then by schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance use disorders, alcohol use disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Depression, the most prevalent suicide risk factor, was associated with a comparatively lower risk.

Individuals with personality disorders frequently demonstrate indifference toward treatment and tend to externalize the causes of their difficulties, which contributes to underdiagnosis. It is estimated that approximately 10% of the general population is affected. Professor Hongjin Jeon, the principal investigator, noted, “Our large-scale study highlights the significant association between personality disorders and suicide risk,” and emphasized, “Early diagnosis and intervention are essential, necessitating compassionate attention and support.”

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