Borderline Personality Research Articles

Prediction of borderline personality disorder based on childhood trauma with the mediating role of experiential avoidance

IntroductionTraits of borderline personality disorder are important for the determination of the prognosis of mental illnesses and in evaluating risks of negativity as well as impulsivity. But, there is a lack of information about the distribution characteristics of borderline personality disorder traits and symptoms within clinical groups. The goal of the current study was to predict borderline personality disorder based on childhood trauma, using experiential avoidance as a mediator.MethodsAll male patients hospitalized in local psychiatric health centers with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder comprised the statistical population of the current study. The number of 60 patients were selected by the purposeful sampling method. The questionnaire included the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (AAQ-II), and the Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms (BSL-23).Results and discussionThe results demonstrated that there is a considerable and positive relationship between childhood trauma and experiential avoidance (r = 0.711, p< 0.01). In the mediating model, childhood trauma had significant direct predictive effects on borderline personality disorder (β = 0.546, p< 0.01). Also, between childhood trauma and BPD, experienced avoidance acts as a moderating factor. (β = 0.304, p< 0.01).

Understanding the Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: A Study on Offenders

Background Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is well known for its effectiveness in addressing psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and borderline personality disorder, often used alongside medication. Summary CBT is used more often in the criminal justice system to help rehabilitate offenders by targeting cognitive distortions affecting their social and decision-making abilities. These maladaptive behaviours and sense of entitlement can result from distortions, which CBT works to address by restructuring thought patterns and encouraging adaptive behaviours. In general, CBT is a crucial method for decreasing repeat offences and dealing with mental health problems within the legal system. Key message CBT has demonstrated encouraging outcomes in decreasing reoffending rates in both youths and adults, aiding criminals in acquiring abilities to successfully re-enter society. Although it has replaced traditional rehabilitative services such as education and occupational therapy, its success highlights its importance in offender rehabilitation programmes. Nevertheless, inmates are frequently required to participate, causing doubts about their willingness to engage voluntarily.

Atlas of gray matter volume differences across psychiatric conditions: A systematic review with a novel meta-analysis that considers co-occurring disorders

Regional gray matter volume (GMV) differences between individuals with mental disorders and comparison subjects may be confounded by co-occurring disorders. To disentangle the disorder-specific GMV correlates, we conducted a large-scale multi-disorder meta-analysis using a novel approach that explicitly models co-occurring disorders. We systematically reviewed voxel-based morphometry studies indexed in PubMed and Scopus up to January 2023 comparing adults with major mental disorders (anorexia nervosa, schizophrenia-spectrum, anxiety, bipolar, major depressive, obsessive-compulsive, and post-traumatic stress disorders, plus attention-deficit/hyperactivity, autism spectrum, and borderline personality disorders) to comparison subjects. Two authors independently extracted data and assessed quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We derived GMV correlates for each disorder using: a) a multi-disorder meta-analysis accounting for all co-occurring mental disorders simultaneously; b) separate standard meta-analyses for each disorder ignoring co-occurring disorders. We assessed the alterations' extent, intensity (effect size), and specificity (inter-disorder correlations and transdiagnostic alterations) for both approaches. We included 433 studies (499 datasets) involving 19,718 patients and 16,441 comparison subjects (51% females, aged 20-67 years). We provide GMV correlate maps for each disorder using both approaches. The novel approach, which accounted for co-occurring disorders, produced GMV correlates that were more focal and disorder-specific (less correlated across disorders and fewer transdiagnostic abnormalities). This work offers the most comprehensive atlas of GMV correlates across major mental disorders. Modeling co-occurring disorders yielded more specific correlates, supporting this approach's validity. The atlas NIfTI maps are available online.

An evaluation of measurement invariance of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition borderline personality disorder criteria across heterosexual, lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults.

There is a robust, yet poorly understood relationship between nonheterosexual orientation and borderline personality disorder (BPD), with lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals evidencing greater BPD symptoms compared to heterosexual individuals. Recent evidence suggests possible psychometric bias in BPD diagnostic criteria leading to greater endorsement among sexual minority individuals, which hinders researchers' ability to make valid group comparisons. The present study utilized an epidemiological sample of 35,995 men and women to evaluate the extent of differential item functioning (DIF) among BPD criteria across sexual orientation groups using a multiple indicators multiple causes approach. All criteria except affective instability and emptiness indicated DIF for at least one sexual minority focal group, although both demonstrated DIF in sensitivity analyses. DIF was most consistently indicated for suicidality, efforts to avoid abandonment, and impulsivity. Contrary to predictions, DIF was mostly nonuniform with greater item discrimination for sexual minority groups compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Finally, all estimated effect sizes were small, suggesting that DIF was not practically meaningful and unlikely to impact the validity of group comparisons for BPD criteria across heterosexual and nonheterosexual men and women. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Prefrontal cortex engagement during an fMRI task of emotion regulation as a potential predictor of treatment response in borderline personality disorder.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe mental illness, with high rates of co-morbid depression and suicidality. Despite the importance of optimizing treatment in BPD, little is known about how neural processes relate to individual treatment response. This study examines how baseline regional brain blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) activation during a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) task of emotion regulation is related to treatment response following a six-month randomized clinical trial of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) treatment. Unmedicated females with BPD (N = 37), with recent suicidal behavior or self-injury, underwent an fMRI task in which negative personal memories were presented and they were asked to distance (i.e., downregulate their emotional response) or immerse (i.e., experience emotions freely). Patients were then randomized to DBT (N = 16) or SSRI (N = 21) treatment, with baseline and post-treatment depression and BPD severity assessed. BOLD activity in prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate, and insula was associated with distancing. Baseline BOLD during distancing in dorsolateral, ventrolateral, and orbital prefrontal cortex (dlPFC, vlPFC, OFC) differentially predicted depression response across treatment groups, with higher activity predicting better response in the SSRI group, and lower activity predicting better response in the DBT group. All female samples. Findings indicate that greater prefrontal engagement during emotion regulation may predict more antidepressant benefit from SSRIs, whereas lower engagement may predict better response to DBT. These results suggest different mechanisms of action for SSRI and DBT treatment, and this may allow fMRI to guide individualized treatment selection.

Targeting Higher-Order Dimensions of Personality in Treatment as a Parsimonious Means to Address Co-Occurring Psychopathology

People with borderline personality disorder (BPD) commonly have co-occurring mental health conditions that may be accounted for by higher-order factors in dimensional models of psychopathology. BPD Compass is a cognitive-behavioral treatment developed to target broad personality domains (i.e., negative affectivity, antagonism, disinhibition) associated with BPD and related conditions. The purpose of the present study was to explore the extent to which BPD Compass can serve as a transdiagnostic intervention for these comorbid conditions. Participants (N = 100; Mage = 28.13, 73.7% female, 79.6% White, 66% sexual minority) were assigned to either immediately begin treatment (randomized and naturalistic) or receive treatment after an 18-week waiting period. At baseline, participants met criteria for an average of 3.28 (SD = 2.02, range: 0-8) comorbid diagnoses ranging in clinical severity from 3.30 (for substance use disorder) to 4.91 (for persistent depressive disorder). Post-treatment clinical severity ratings (CSRs) for those randomized to receive BPD Compass were below clinical thresholds for all assessed conditions except premenstrual dysphoric disorder, whereas post-waitlist CSRs remained above clinical thresholds for all disorders except bipolar II, agoraphobia, and major depressive disorder. Collapsed across all patients who received BPD Compass, pre- to post-treatment improvements in were significant and large in magnitude for most disorders assessed. These results suggest that BPD Compass may be an efficacious transdiagnostic intervention, though our small sample and high rate of dropout warrant further study.

Identity disturbance in dimensional and categorical models of personality disorder: The incremental value of self-rated identity and narrative identity.

Identity disturbance is increasingly considered to drive personality disorder (PD) onset. Previous research has investigated how identity relates to PD using either self-report scales or narratives to assess identity. Few studies have investigated how both operationalizations relate to one another and to models of PD. More so, no study has investigated whether a narrative identity assessment offers additional explanatory power in understanding PD, beyond what is captured by a self-rated identity assessment, or vice versa. We aimed to address these gaps by administering a rating scale measuring (mal)adaptive identity alongside a prompt to write a narrative about a turning point event to 331 individuals aged 18-30 (72.2% female, Mage = 22.56). Using this multimethod approach, we investigated (a) associations of narrative identity dimensions (agency, communion, exploratory processing) with self-rated identity, self- and interpersonal dysfunction, and symptoms of borderline and antisocial PD, and (b) whether these narrative identity dimensions could explain unique variance in self- and interpersonal dysfunction, and borderline and antisocial PD symptoms, above and beyond self-rated identity, and vice versa. Results revealed significant associations among narrative identity, self-rated identity, and models of PD. Furthermore, communion demonstrated incremental value in explaining PD features, beyond what was accounted for by self-rated identity. However, narrative identity did not offer additional explanatory power in understanding self- and interpersonal dysfunction, beyond self-rated identity. Self-rated identity showed incremental value in explaining all PD models, beyond narrative identity. These results emphasize the importance of employing different methodologies for assessing identity in elucidating how identity disturbance manifests in personality pathology. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder.

The American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder.

Attitudes Towards Parents with a Diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder in Child Protection Settings

Attitudes Towards Parents with a Diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder in Child Protection Settings

Emotional awareness, child maltreatment and child exposed to intimate partner violence: A systematic review of their relationship with symptoms and protective factors

AbstractThis systematic review studies the emotional awareness (EA) in children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) and other child maltreatment (CM), and their relationship with externalizing and internalizing symptoms and protective factors. The search was performed using the PubMed, PsycINFO and Google Scholar databases. The search was based on scientific studies using the follow terms: (“emotional awareness” OR “emotional intelligence”) AND (child OR adolescent OR children OR teenager) AND (abuse OR neglect OR maltreatment OR “presence of domestic violence” OR “domestic violence” OR “intimate partner violence”). Seventeen empirical studies were included, presenting a low risk of bias (82%). Four studies have explored the relationship between EA and exposition to IPV, four with sexual abuse, five with neglect, five with psychological abuse and three with physical abuse. A total of 13 articles have assessed the relationship between EA and externalizing and internalizing symptoms: three with suicidal ideation (SI), three with post‐traumatic stress symptoms (PTSD), two focused on addictions, three on affective symptoms, one with total externalizing symptoms, one with borderline personality disorder (BDP), one with non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI) and one with disordered eating behaviours and attitudes (DEBA). Studies show that abused children have lower EA and that the lower EA, the greater the presence of symptoms. A total of 10 articles have assessed the relationship between EA and protective factors such as mental health in parents, six with coping skills, one with self‐stem and one with quality of life. The main results suggest that EA could be a mediator between children exposed to IPV and other CM and internalizing and externalizing symptoms as well as protective factors.

Validation of the Indonesian version of the self-compassion scale for youth using Rasch model analysis

Adolescence is a phase marked by stress, emotional instability, and low self-esteem, often leading to self-criticism and social withdrawal. To cope with these challenges, adolescents need self-compassion to maintain self-kindness and achieve better psychological well-being. This study aims to measure adolescent self-compassion using the Self-Compassion Scale for Youth (SCSY), a 17-item scale developed to suit the competencies of adolescents, as the original Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) is less applicable for this age group. A quantitative survey design was employed, with data from 105 high school students (aged 16-17, predominantly Sundanese, residing in rural areas) analyzed using JASP and Winstep for Rasch Model measurement. Results indicated that the SCSY demonstrated acceptable validity and reliability, confirming its suitability for adolescent self-compassion measurement. Findings underscore the importance of self-compassion in fostering emotional stability and resilience, suggesting that school-based guidance and counseling could benefit from incorporating self-compassion training to enhance mental health support for adolescents. The SCSY’s tailored approach facilitates early detection of self-compassion levels, enabling counselors to provide targeted interventions that align with adolescents’ developmental needs.

The Predictive Role of Personality Disorders and Personality Traits in Death Anxiety.

The current study investigates the interplay between personality traits, personality disorders, and death anxiety in a sample of 2331 participants (49% males; 51% females) across two phases. The Death Anxiety Scale, the Psychosocial Personality Inventory, and the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire were utilized. The findings revealed significant predictive relationships between personality disorders and death anxiety. Positive correlations were observed between death anxiety and nine personality disorders, including avoidant (r = .227), borderline (r = .123), dependent (r = .157), depressive (r = .098), histrionic (r = .074), narcissistic (r = .111), negativistic (r = .103), obsessive-compulsive (r = .126), and schizotypal (r = .078) personality disorders (p < .001). Death anxiety had significant inverse correlations with leadership (r = -.101) and spirituality (r = -.099) traits (p < .005). Avoidant personality disorder projected the highest prediction for death anxiety (β = .227; p = .000). Leadership as a personality trait demonstrated an outstanding ability to prevent death anxiety (β = -.101; p = .013). These findings make a unique contribution to the literature of death anxiety, personality disorders, and personality traits.

The Relationship Between Feelings of Emptiness and Self-Harm Among Thai Patients Exhibiting Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms: The Mediating Role of the Inner Strengths

Background and Objectives: Fifty percent of individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) experience self-harm. One of the crucial factors related to self-harm is feelings of emptiness. While inner strengths, such as the Five Precepts, meditation, and equanimity, have been identified as potential buffers against negative mental health outcomes in BPD, their role in mediating the relationship between feelings of emptiness and self-harm is not well-documented. This study aimed to explore how these inner strengths mediate the relationship between feelings of emptiness and self-harm in individuals exhibiting BPD symptoms. Materials and Methods: A total of 302 Thai participants exhibiting BPD symptoms completed several assessments: the SCID-II Personality Disorder Questionnaire for BPD to assess feelings of emptiness and self-harm, the Inner-Strength-Based Inventory (i-SBI) to evaluate the Five Precepts, meditation, and equanimity, and the Outcome Inventory Depression (OI-Depression) to assess depression. Mean and standard deviation were used for continuous variables, such as age and OI-Depression. A t-test assessed mean differences in continuous variables between the self-harm group and the non-self-harm group. Chi-square tests examined differences in categorical variables with three or more levels, such as education. Pearson’s correlation and linear regression analyzed relationships between continuous variables, including i-SBI and OI-Depression scores. Mediation analysis was performed using IBM SPSS and AMOS, with self-harm as the outcome variable, feelings of emptiness as the predictor, and inner strengths as mediators. Results: The participants had a mean age of 36.56, with 65.4% being female. The analysis showed that the Five Precepts, meditation, and equanimity significantly mediated the relationship between feelings of emptiness and self-harm, with a standardized coefficient of β = 0.534 (95% CI = 0.417 to 0.647, p &lt; 0.001). The indirect effect of feelings of emptiness through these inner strengths was significant (β = 0.034, 95% CI = 0.009 to 0.075, p = 0.005). The mediation model explained 38% of the variance in self-harm with a 3% increase, albeit small but significant. Conclusions: This study highlights that inner strengths negatively mediate the relationship between feelings of emptiness and self-harm, indicating that as these inner strengths increase, the direct impact of feelings of emptiness on self-harm decreases. These findings suggest that targeting inner strengths as protective factors could be a valuable strategy in developing interventions aimed at reducing self-harm by addressing the underlying emotional challenges associated with BPD.

Update on the Neurobiology of Borderline Personality Disorder: A Review of Structural, Resting-State and Task-Based Brain Imaging Studies.

This review summarizes recent advances in research on the neurobiology of borderline personality disorder (BPD) according to structural brain imaging investigations and resting-state and task-based functional brain activation studies. Extending established findings on differences in regional brain volumes and cortical thickness between BPD and healthy controls, recent research illuminates shared and distinct brain structural characteristics compared to other psychiatric diagnoses, and uncovers relations of these brain structures with transdiagnostic symptoms and clinical features. Resting-state functional brain imaging studies reveal disruptions among adolescents and adults with BPD in frontolimbic and default-mode networks, which primarily underlie affect regulation and self-referential processes, respectively. Recent task-based functional brain imaging research builds on existing neurobiological understanding of emotion and cognition in BPD by revealing novel intersections with interpersonal- and stress-related processes. Studies of psychological and pharmacological interventions suggest possible effects on neural regions underlying emotion processing and behavioral control.

A cluster analysis of attachment styles in patients with borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder and ADHD

BackgroundInsecure adult attachment has been associated with psychiatric disorders characterized by emotional dysregulation, such as borderline personality disorder (BPD), bipolar disorder (BD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, little is known about the differences in attachment patterns between these diagnostic groups. The aim of this study was to identify clusters of adult attachment style in a cross-diagnostic group of patients with BDP and/or BD and/or ADHD and explore the characteristics of these clusters based on temperament profile, childhood trauma and psychiatric diagnoses.MethodsK-means cluster analysis was used to identify subgroups, based on the Attachment Style Questionnaire Short Form dimensions, in a clinical cohort of 150 young adults (113 women and 37 men, mean age ± SD = 23.3 ± 2.1) diagnosed with BPD, and/or BD, and/or ADHD.ResultsThree distinct clusters were identified: a secure, an insecure/avoidant-anxious and an insecure/avoidant cluster. These three clusters differed in temperament profile and related psychiatric diagnoses.ConclusionsThe three clusters of attachment in individuals with BPD, BD and/or ADHD could support differentiation between the disorders as well provide information usable for planning of treatment.

Uncertain reflective functioning, anxious attachment, and cumulative impact of early relational trauma as predictors of severity in borderline personality disorder

ABSTRACT Background: The mentalization model of borderline personality disorder (BPD) utilizes a developmental psychopathology lens, emphasizing an unstable or reduced capacity to mentalize—stemming from early attachment disruptions and relational trauma—as the core feature of BPD. While the empirical evidence for the proposed intersections between mentalizing, attachment, and trauma and the development and manifestations of borderline personality is still limited, this knowledge is essential for developing effective assessments and interventions. Aim: To examine mentalizing, attachment, and early relational trauma as predictors of the severity of symptoms in BPD. Materials and Methods: The sample included 60 individuals diagnosed with BPD, aged 18–45 years, recruited from inpatient and outpatient services in a tertiary care mental health center. Participants completed measures of mentalizing (Reflective Functioning Questionnaire, Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and Reading the Mind in the Eyes test), attachment (Attachment Style Questionnaire), early relational trauma (Complex Trauma Questionnaire), and symptom severity (Borderline Symptom List). Results: The majority of the participants reported experiences of polyvictimization (93.3%) with the most common traumas being psychological abuse (93.3%), neglect (91.7%), and rejection (90.0%). Regression analyses revealed that uncertain reflective functioning, anxious attachment style, and the cumulative impact of trauma together predicted 53.1% of the variance in BPD symptom severity. Conclusion: Impaired mentalizing, characterized by inflexible understanding of mental states, is a critical target for therapeutic interventions in BPD. The significant role of anxious attachment and the necessity of assessing the perceived impact of traumatic experiences highlight the importance of trauma-informed and mentalization-based interventions for this vulnerable group.

Perspective of Fulfilling The Social Needs of Children Affected to The Mountain Semeru Eruption: Qualitative Study

Indonesia is an archipelagic country located at the confluence of four tectonic plates and there are volcanic arcs along the islands of Sumatra-Java-Nusa Tenggara-Sulawesi. This condition causes Indonesia to be in a condition prone to natural disasters, especially volcanic eruptions. Disasters have a more serious impact on vulnerable groups. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect research data. Researchers collected demographic data at the research stage and then conducted direct interviews with research informants through in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussion. A total of 24 participants were involved in this study which were taken using purposive sampling. The research was conducted on preschool and school aged children (3-12 years) who were affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru in Lumajang Regency, Indonesia. The Mount Semeru eruption disaster resulted in psychological problems in children because peer separation, behavior, and borderline personality disorder have been widely reported in volcanic eruption disasters. Good social support is an important aspect in the process of recovering children after a disaster. Rapid life changes encourage parents to adapt immediately to meet the needs of children.

The Intersection of Anorexia Nervosa and Personality Disorders: A Comprehensive Review of Comorbidities, Influencing Factors, and Therapeutic Approaches

Complex eating disorders like anorexia nervosa (AN) and personality disorders (PDs), including obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD), often co-occur. The confluence of PDs and AN poses distinct difficulties in terms of diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy, complicating clinical management and producing less favorable results. To summarize the most recent findings on the co-occurrence of anorexia nervosa and personality disorders, this review will look at their prevalence, psychopathological relationships, effects on treatment results, and efficacy of different therapy modalities, with a thorough search conducted, concentrating on research published between 2000 and 2024, utilizing peer-reviewed publications from PubMed, PsycINFO, and Proquest. Past literature presents a substantial overlap between PDs and AN, and concomitant PDs have been linked to recurrence rates, treatment resistance, and more severe types of AN. The psychopathological relationships among these illnesses are complex, encompassing both common and unique etiological paths. Depending on the PD implicated, various therapy modalities, such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), have been investigated with varying degrees of success. This review emphasizes the need for more specialized, integrated treatment approaches targeting AN and concomitant PDs and appeals that future research should concentrate on creating tailored therapies and early detection techniques to enhance therapeutic results. The results emphasize the importance of considering personality pathology while managing AN to improve treatment efficacy and promote long-term recovery.

Examining the personalities of football fans according to their typologies

This study aims to determine the typologies of football fans and reveal whether personality traits differ according to typologies. In this context, 353 fans who watched the match of the team they support at least twice from the stadium in the 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 Turkish Football Super League and First League were included in the study. Based on these results, 353 fans were included in the study, and related analyses were carried out. “Fan Typology Scale” and “Adjective-Based Personality Test (ABPT)” were used as data collection tools. A two-stage hierarchical clustering analysis was used to reveal the fan typology, and the research questions were tested with analysis of variance and chi-square analyses. As a result, four types of fans were obtained in the study: hooligan, fanatic, classic, and social. When the personality traits of the obtained typologies were analyzed, it was found that extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to innovation scores were high, and emotional instability scores were average. However, it was determined that there were no statistically significant differences in the personality traits of the typologies. It is thought that the fact that the personality traits of hooligan fans showing violent tendencies are similar to the classical, social, and fanatic fans will contribute to the literature as one of the striking results of this study.

A thematic analysis of the subjective experiences of mothers with borderline personality disorder who completed Mother-Infant Dialectical Behaviour Therapy: a 3-year follow-up

BackgroundPerinatal borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a common condition in perinatal mental health settings with few specialised treatment options, and little is known about the enduring effects of available treatment programs. This study explored the follow-up experiences of women with BPD after completing Mother-Infant Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (MI-DBT).MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with eight women who had completed MI-DBT 3 years prior. Reflexive Thematic Analysis was used to analyse the interviews to gain a richer understanding of these mothers’ lived experience.ResultsA thematic analysis generated four main themes which indicated that participants found that MI-DBT improved their ability to hold their child in mind, be aware of their own internal state and behaviours, manage their own emotional reactions and stay calm, and manage interpersonal interactions within adult relationships. Mothers with perinatal borderline personality disorder also highlighted the need for ongoing support in the context of parenting.ConclusionsThis study is the first of its kind to explore the longer-term experiences of mothers following such an intervention, giving voice to this vulnerable group of women. The findings of this study provide a greater understanding of the complex challenges experienced as part of parenting for mothers with borderline personality disorder, and provides both insight into mothers’ experiences of life after MI-DBT and the impact of the program on their lives. The clinical and research implications of the study’s findings are discussed.Trial registrationThis research was retrospectively registered on 07/03/2024, ACTRN12624000225516.