RISK-FACTORS FOR SELF-DAMAGING ACTS IN A BORDERLINE POPULATION

The authors studied 42 hospitalized female borderline patients in term s of level of depression, interpersonal relations, and concurrent DSM Axis II diagnoses in an effort to identify risk factors for self-destr uctive behavior. A poor quality of interpersonal relations characteriz ed the patients who had a history of serious self-destructiveness. Thi s finding points to the need for clinicians treating of this patient p opulation to evaluate and to address problems in interpersonal relatio ns in order to reduce the risk of self-destructive behavior.