Precursors To Borderline Personality Disorder Among Maltreated Children

This study used the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN) data (N = 1281) to investigate whether maltreated children demonstrated greater vulnerability to developing Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) in adulthood through expression of potential precursors to the disorder. The 11 dimensions assessed were conceptualized by Rogosch and Cicchetti (2005) to comprise the BPD precursors composite score, and include: relational aggression, dislike by peers, negative self-perception, suicidal ideation, lability and dysregulated negative affect, poor effortful control, upsetting/demanding behavior, conflicted relationships, negative perceptions of peers, self-harm, and preoccupation with mother. Maltreated children had higher mean BPD precursors composite scores than nonmaltreated children. Physical abuse and neglect were associated with higher BPD precursors composite scores, and males had higher scores than females. Implications of these findings on understanding the etiology of personality disorders, early intervention for BPD, and directions for future research are discussed