Article Sidebar

PDF
Issue: No. 102 (2026)
Section: Case Report
DOI: 10.58490/ctjump.2026i102.4386
Date Published: 25/08/2026
Views 0
Downloads 0
How to Cite
Vu, S. T., & Do, H. P. (2026). SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR IN ADOLESCENT PATIENT WITH BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER TRAITS: A CASE REPORT. Cantho Journal of Medicine and Pharmacy, 102, 313-318. https://doi.org/10.58490/ctjump.2026i102.4386

SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR IN ADOLESCENT PATIENT WITH BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER TRAITS: A CASE REPORT

Son Tung Vu1,2, Hoai Phuong Do1,
1 Hanoi Medical University
2 Institute of Mental Health – Bach Mai Hospital

Main Article Content

Abstract

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by instability in interpersonal relationships, an intense fear of abandonment, impulsivity, affective instability, and impaired social functioning. We report a case in November 2025 of a 17-year-old female patient who presented and was admitted for depressed mood after intentionally ingesting 18 paracetamol tablets with suicidal intent. The patient exhibited a depressive syndrome with a BECK score of 53. The Child Behavior Checklist - CBCL revealed clinical ranges on the withdrawn/depressed and rule-breaking behavior scales, alongside a borderline clinical range on the aggressive behavior scale. The patient was diagnosed with comorbid severe Major Depressive Disorder with suicidal behavior, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and Borderline Personality Disorder. A multimodal treatment approach was implemented, comprising pharmacotherapy (Sertraline, Risperidone, and Topiramate) combined with psychotherapy. After 9 days of inpatient treatment, the patient showed a positive clinical response, with marked remission of behavioral symptoms and suicidal ideation.Early identification and timely intervention are crucial to alleviating patient distress and mitigating the broader socioeconomic burden attributed to this condition. 

Keywords

Borderline personality disorder, suicidal behavior, mental health

Article Details

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

References

1. Lak M, Shakiba S, Dolatshahi B, Saatchi M, Shahrbaf M, et al. The prevalence of suicide ideation, suicide attempt and suicide in borderline personality disorder patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2025. 95, 52-61, doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2025.04.005.
2. Söderholm JJ, Socada JL, Rosenström T, Ekelund J, Isometsä ET. Borderline Personality Disorder With Depression Confers Significant Risk of Suicidal Behavior in Mood Disorder Patients—A Comparative Study. Front Psychiatry. 2020. 11, 290, doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00290.
3. Mirkovic B, Delvenne V, Robin M, Pham-Scottez A, Corcos M, et al. Borderline personality disorder and adolescent suicide attempt: the mediating role of emotional dysregulation. BMC Psychiatry. 2021. 21, 393, doi:10.1186/s12888-021-03377-x.
4. Jopling EN, Khalid-Khan S, Chandrakumar SF, Segal SC. A retrospective chart review: adolescents with borderline personality disorder, borderline personality traits, and controls. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health. 2018. 30(2), doi:10.1515/ijamh2016-0036
5. Yen S, Peters JR, Nishar S, et al. Association of Borderline Personality Disorder Criteria With Suicide Attempts: Findings From the Collaborative Longitudinal Study of Personality Disorders Over 10 Years of Follow-up. JAMA Psychiatry. 2021. 78(2), 187-194. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.3598.
6. Hajfiroozabadi M, Mohtashami J, Atashzadeh-Shoorideh F. Individual Factors Underlying Suicidal Behaviors in Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder: A Qualitative Study. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. 2021. e118312, doi:10.5812/ijpbs.118312.
7. Guilé JM, Boissel L, Alaux-Cantin S, Rivière SG de L. Borderline personality disorder in adolescents: Prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. AHMT. 2018. 9, 199-210, doi:10.2147/AHMT.S156565.
8. Genis-Mendoza AD, Dionisio-García DM, Gonzalez-Castro TB, et al. Increased Levels of Cortisol in Individuals With Suicide Attempt and Its Relation With the Number of Suicide Attempts and Depression. Front Psychiatry. 2022. 13, doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.912021
9. Iskric A, Barkley-Levenson E. Neural Changes in Borderline Personality Disorder After Dialectical Behavior Therapy–A Review. Front Psychiatry. 2021. 12, doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.772081
10. Fernando SC, Beblo T, Lamers A, et al. Neural correlates of emotion acceptance and suppression in borderline personality disorder. Front Psychiatry. 2023. 13, doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1066218.
11. Kaess M, Cavelti M. Research Review: What we have learned about early detection and intervention of borderline personality disorder. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2025. 66(12), 18291848, doi:10.1111/jcpp.70011.
12. Keepers GA, Fochtmann LJ, Anzia JM, et al. The American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2024. 181,1024-1028, doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.24181010.
13. NICE. Depression in children and young people: identification and management | Guidance | 2019. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng134.
14. NICE Antisocial behaviour and conduct disorders in children and young people: recognition and management. Guidance. 2013. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg158.
15. Steiner H, Remsing L, Work Group on Quality Issues. Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with oppositional defiant disorder. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2007. 46(1),126-141, doi:10.1097/01.chi.0000246060.62706.af
16. Nickel MK, Nickel C, Mitterlehner FO, et al. Topiramate treatment of aggression in female borderline personality disorder patients: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Clin Psychiatry. 2004. 65(11), 1515-1519, doi:10.4088/jcp.v65n1112.