ASPECTS OF DEPRESSION ASSOCIATED WITH BORDERLINE PERSONALITY-DISORDER

Objective: Shared symptoms between borderline personality disorder and depression have resulted in inherent difficulties in evaluating the r elationship between these disorders. Some theorists have argued that d epression in patients with borderline personality disorder is qualitat ively distinct from depression in nonborderline patients. The purpose of this study was to empirically identify aspects of depression most a ssociated with borderline personality disorder. Method: Through interv iew and self-report measures, the authors studied depression in 50 inp atients, 21 of whom had borderline personality disorder. Results: The aspects of depression most associated with borderline personality diso rder were self-condemnation, emptiness, abandonment fears, self-destru ctiveness, and hopelessness; boredom and somatic complaints exhibited no association. Conclusions: Depression associated with borderline pat hology appears to be in some respects unique, as well as distinct from nonborderline depression. The study's implications delineate the impo rtance of considering the phenomenological aspects of depression in bo rderline personality disorder.