Child maltreatment, attention networks, and potential precursors to borderline personality disorder

Abstract

Potential precursors to borderline personality disorder (BPD) were investigated in a sample of 185 maltreated and 175 nonmaltreated school-aged children attending a summer camp research program. Self-report, peer-report, and counselor-report measures were utilized to assess developmental constructs conceptualized to constitute vulnerability for later emerging BPD. These areas, including personality features, representational models of self, parent, and peers, interpersonal relationship difficulties with peers and adults, and suicidal/self-harm behavior, were used to develop a BPD precursors composite. Additionally, the efficiency of three attention networks was assessed with a computerized task. Maltreated children had higher mean scores on the BPD precursors composite, and children classified as having high levels of these precursors were more prevalent in the maltreatment group. No maltreatment group differences were found for the efficiency of the three attention networks; however, children with high levels of BPD precursors evinced less efficient processing of the conflict attention network, comparable to findings observed among adult patients with BPD. Child maltreatment and efficiency of the conflict attention network independently predicted scores on the BPD precursors composite. Experiential and biological contributions to risk for BPD and recommendations for prevention and intervention are discussed.

Prospective study of family adversity and maladaptive parenting in childhood and borderline personality disorder symptoms in a non-clinical population at 11 years

“…All of these may compromise cognitive and emotional regulation (Posner et al 2003). Indeed, individuals with BPD tend to display a disturbance in cognitive control processes (Posner et al 2003 ;Rogosch & Cicchetti, 2005).…”

“…Furthermore, BPD assessments for children have been developed (Crick et al 2005 ;Rogosch & Cicchetti, 2005), and it appears that BPD-related features may be identified as early as 6 years of age, and remain relatively stable over time (Stepp et al 2010). Nevertheless, it has not been ascertained whether factors associated with BPD in adulthood are also associated with BPD symptoms during late childhood.…”

L’enfant borderline en devenir II : validation préliminaire de l’Échelle de traits de personnalité limite pour enfants

“…ex., émotionnel, verbal, physique et sexuel), la négligence (p. ex., des soins physiques de l'enfant, retrait émotionnel des parents, déni des besoins émotifs de l'enfant, manque de protection de la part des parents), les séparations multiples, le divorce des parents, ainsi que la criminalité, les traumatismes et les troubles des parents sont ciblés par la recherche sur l'étiologie du TPL (Battle et al, 2004 ;Bradley, Conklin et Westen, 2005 ;Johnson, Smailes, Cohen, Brown et Bernstein, 2000 ;Kernberg, 1990 ;Paris, 2000 ;Rogosch et Cicchetti, 2005).…”

Definition, Incidence and Psychopathological Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect

“…In particular, it has be found that children who are the victims of sexual abuse show internalising and externalising difficulties, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, personality disorders and problems in interpersonal relations with peers [61,[106][107][108][109][110].…”