CHILDHOOD ANTECEDENTS OF SELF-DESTRUCTIVENESS IN BORDERLINE PERSONALITY-DISORDER

Objective: To assess the relationship between lifetime patterns of sel f-destructive behaviour and various parameters of childhood abuse and neglect in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) compare d with other personality disorder (OPD) controls. Method: The subjects were 42 inpatients with the diagnosis of BPD and 17 OPD controls. Lif etime patterns of self-destructive behaviour were assessed using the L ifetime Borderline Symptom Index. Childhood experiences were assessed using a semistructured interview by raters who were blind to diagnosis . Results: Chronic self-destructive behaviour discriminated patients w ith BPD from OPD controls. In the borderline group, parental sexual ab use was significantly related to suicidal behaviour and both parental sexual abuse and emotional neglect were significantly related to self- mutilation. Conclusion: Both parental sexual abuse and emotional negle ct appear to play a role in the etiology of self-destructive behaviour in BPD. The results highlight the importance of considering the effec ts of sexual abuse within ifs environmental context and suggest that t he etiology of borderline symptoms is likely multifactorial.