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Background: Patients with emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD) report increased use and exposure to interpersonal violence and experience significant interpersonal difficulties. The relationship between the type of self-reported interpersonal problems and interpersonal violence among individuals with EUPD remains unclear. This study investigates the association between interpersonal problems and the cumulative lifetime violence burden among suicidal women with EUPD.

Methods: The study included 103 women diagnosed with EUPD who had attempted suicide at least twice. The inventory of Interpersonal problems (IIP) and the Karolinska Interpersonal Violence Scale (KIVS) were used to assess interpersonal problems and lifetime violence load. The eight IIP subscales were grouped into two factors: Factor 1 (Domineering; Vindictive; Cold; Social avoidant) and Factor 2 (Nonassertive; Exploitable; Overly nurturant, and Intrusive).

Results: The mean T-scores for IIP subscales ranged from 56 to 63, while the KIVS total score varied from 0 to 19, with a mean of 7.63. Cumulative lifetime violence burden was significantly associated with IIP Factor 1 (Spearman’s rho=0.26, p=0.0081), but not with IIP Factor 2 (r=0.014, p=0.89). Linear regression analysis revealed that Factor 1 (t=2.99, p=0.0039) and global assessment of functioning (GAF) (t=-2.26, p=0.027) significantly predicted accumulated lifetime interpersonal violence. Further post-hoc analysis showed that individuals with higher violence burdens exhibited significantly greater interpersonal problems in the three domains of Factor 1 - Domineering/Controlling, Vindictive/Self-centered, and Cold/Distant.

Conclusions: Specific Interpersonal problems and low functioning seem to be associated with cumulative lifetime violence burden among suicidal women with EUPD. These interpersonal traits may serve as key targets for treatment and prevention.