Borderline personality disorder typical symptoms among Brazilian adolescents in a foster care institution

Abstract

ABSTRACTBorderline personality disorder (BPD) symptoms usually emerge during adolescence. Because it is a highly dysfunctional disorder, this study aimed to identify the presence of BPD typical symptoms in Brazilian adolescents in a foster care institution. This research was conducted with 44 adolescents ranging from 12 to 17 years old from a foster care institution in south of Brazil. The adolescents answered the instrument Borderline Symptoms List-23 to assess BPD symptomatology, and the psychologist of the institution answered a questionnaire about the adolescents regarding sex, age, education, the process of entering the institution and mental health history. The sample was divided in two groups: one composed of adolescents with problematic levels of symptoms, showing an intense presentation of BPD symptoms, and the other made of adolescents with non-problematic levels of symptoms, showing a slight presentation of BPD symptoms. Comparisons between sex and the instrument total scores showed that girls had significant higher means than boys (p < 0.05). Through regression analysis, the adolescents presenting problematic levels of symptoms were those who entered the foster care institution at 12 years old or older (p < 0.05), and were in high school (p < 0.05). The results of this study indicate the presence of different levels of BPD symptoms in Brazilian adolescents in the foster care institution suggesting the importance of the development of interventions aiming mental health promotion.