Structural relations between borderline personality disorder features and putative etiological correlates

This study assessed the structural relations between borderline personality disorder (BPD) features and purported etiological correlates. Approximatel y 5,000 18-year-old nonclinical young adults were screened for BPD features , and 2 cohorts of participants (total N = 421; approximately one half of w hom endorsed significant borderline features) completed the laboratory phas e of the study. Measures included self-report and interview-based assessmen ts of BPD psychopathology, personality, psychopathology in biological paren ts, and childhood physical and sexual abuse. Significant relations between BPD features and purported etiological correlates of BPD were found. A mult ivariate model that included parental psychopathology, childhood abuse, and personality factors provided an adequate fit to the data and supported the contention that the personality traits disinhibition and negative affectiv ity underlie BPD features.