The long-term stability of temperament traits measured after a suicide attempt. A 5-year follow-up of ratings of Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP)

The main aim of the present study was to investigate whether or not temperament dimensions are stable over time. Twenty-six patients (21 women and five men) filled in the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP) both at admission after a suicide attempt (index) and at follow-up 5 years later. KSP changes were significantly associated with low severity of psychiatric symptoms and no reported reattempts at follow up. There were significant changes of all five groups of KSP, most prominently in anxiety-related scales. At index, KSP scores did not differ between those who later would repeat a suicide attempt (repeaters) and not, but repeaters more often tended to have a personality disorder and their 24-h urinary cortisol tended to be lower. In this limited sample, repeaters seem to have a protracted high anxiety level as mirrored by high and stable KSP scores over time.