Borderline personality and depressive symptomatology: Common psychosocial predictors and comorbidity

Abstract

Objective: Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and the affective disorders, in particular depression, share some overlap in symptomatology and a set of common psychosocial determinants. The purpose of the current study was to provide further evidence informing debates of diagnostic distinction by quantifying (1) self-reported symptomatic comorbidity of the two disorders and (2) relative contributions of parental bonding and early maladaptive schemas to adult levels of borderline and depressive symptomatology. Method: A general population sample of 411 participants, ranging from 18 to 65 years (99 males and 312 females), completed the questionnaire package. Results: Retrospectively reported level of parental care was found to account for significant unique variance in adult borderline and depressive symptomatology. Furthermore, schemas of the Disconnection/ Rejection domain and others were found to significantly and concordantly predict both borderline and depressive symptomatology. Participants reporting substantive levels of borderline symptoms also reported depressive symptoms outside the normal range. Conclusions: These findings support significant overlap in the symptomatology, co-severity and psychosocial determinants of BPD and depression. These data have implications for the management and early prevention of both depression and BPD.

The relation of borderline personality disorder to aggression, victimization, and institutional misconduct among prisoners

“…For instance, suicide attempts are among the most salient indicators of BPD [2, 3] and 75% of those with the disorder will attempt suicide at least once during their lifetimes [4, 5]. BPD is characterized by impulsivity that often prompts engagement in significant health risk behaviors.…”

“…Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by instability in affect regulation, cognition, impulse control, and interpersonal relationships, and is associated with significant functional impairment [1]. For instance, suicide attempts are among the most salient indicators of BPD [2, 3] and 75% of those with the disorder will attempt suicide at least once during their lifetimes [4, 5]. BPD is characterized by impulsivity that often prompts engagement in significant health risk behaviors.…”

Comparison of early maladaptive schemas between borderline personality disorder and chronic depression

“…The majority of EMSs are more prevalent in patients with BPD or major depressive disorder (MDD) compared to mentally healthy individuals (Halvorsen et al, ; Leppänen, Kärki, Saariaho, Lindeman, & Hakko, ; Nilsson, Jørgensen, Straarup, & Licht, ; Riso et al, ). In both BPD and major depression, the most commonly observed EMSs represent disconnection and rejection, and impaired autonomy and performance domains (Barazandeh, Kissane, Saeedi, & Gordon, ; Field, Francis, & Carr, ; Halvorsen et al, ; Renner et al, ). These EMSs place themes of inadequate safety, stability, and security and diminished capacity to cope and survive independently, at the core of both disorders.…”

Trans-generational transfer of early maladaptive schemas – a preliminary study performed on a non-clinical group

“…However, in the literature there are no attempts to evaluate whether there are such connections and, if so, what kind they are. A few studies indicate the role of parental attitudes and the mediation role of schemas in problematic behaviour (Dale, Power, Kane, Stewart, & Murray, 2010;Field, Francis, & Carr, 2015;Hoffart Lunding & Hoffart, 2014;Turner, Rose, & Cooper, 2005). Also connections of an authoritarian style with some dysfunctional schemas have been proven (Esmali Kooraneh & Amirsardari, 2015).…”