Adolescent Personality Disorder Research Articles

Borderline personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder in adolescents: protocol for a comparative study of borderline personality disorder with and without comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder (BORDERSTRESS-ADO)

BackgroundBorderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a prevalent and debilitating psychiatric condition often accompanied by Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), with a substantial prevalence of trauma history among affected individuals. The clinical, cognitive, and cerebral parallels shared with PTSD suggest a trauma-related etiology for BPD. Studies consistently demonstrate a reduction in hippocampal volume in individuals with BPD, echoing findings in PTSD. However, the interpretation of this shared neurobiological profile remains contentious, with ongoing debates regarding the independence of these pathologies or the potential exacerbation of diminished hippocampal volume in BPD due to concurrent PTSD. Differential impacts on hippocampal subfields across both disorders may further complicate interpretation, suggesting the volume of hippocampal subfields as a potential discriminant biomarker. This study aims to characterize the multidimensional specific and shared profiles of BPD and PTSD-related alterations, with a particular emphasis on hippocampal subfields during adolescence, a crucial period in BPD development.MethodsThis study focuses on female adolescents, who are more prevalent in the BPD population. Participants are categorized into three groups: BPD, BPD with comorbid PTSD, and a control group of matched healthy individuals. Data collection encompasses clinical, cognitive, and neuroimaging domains commonly affected in both disorders, utilizing various imaging markers (including gray matter macrostructure, white matter microstructural integrity, and regional functional connectivity).DiscussionThis study examines adolescent BPD with and without comorbid PTSD on clinical, neuroimaging, and cognitive levels. It is the first to use a comprehensive multi-modal approach within the same sample. Additionally, it uniquely explores hippocampal subfield volume differences in adolescents. Analysis of the relationship between the investigated domains and the effects of PTSD comorbidity will elucidate specific and shared alteration profiles in both disorders.Trial registrationIDRCB number 2019-A00366-51 / clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT0485274. Registered on 21/04/2021.

Prefrontal cortex activation under stress as a function of borderline personality disorder in female adolescents engaging in non-suicidal self-injury.

Neuroimaging studies suggest alterations in prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity in healthy adults under stress. Adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) report difficulties in stress and emotion regulation, which may be dependent on their level of borderline personality disorder (BPD). The aim was to examine alterations in the PFC in adolescents with NSSI during stress. Adolescents (13-17 years) engaging in non-suicidal self-injury (n = 30) and matched healthy controls (n = 29) performed a task with low cognitive demand and the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Mean PFC oxygenation across the PFC was measured with an eight-channel near-infrared spectroscopy system. Alongside self-reports on affect, dissociation and stress, BPD pathology was assessed via clinical interviews. Mixed linear-effect models revealed a significant effect of time on PFC oxygenation and a significant time×group interaction, indicating increased PFC activity in patients engaging in NSSI at the beginning of the TSST compared with healthy controls. Greater BPD symptoms overall were associated with an increase in PFC oxygenation during stress. In exploratory analyses, mixed models addressing changes in PFC connectivity over time as a function of BPD symptoms were significant only for the left PFC. Results indicate differences in the neural stress response in adolescents with NSSI in line with classic neuroimaging findings in adults with BPD. The link between PFC oxygenation and measures of BPD symptoms emphasises the need to further investigate adolescent risk-taking and self-harm across the spectrum of BPD, and maybe overall personality pathology, and could aid in the development of tailored therapeutic interventions.

The role of threat sensitivity, social affiliation, and left-behind experience in shaping adolescent callous-unemotional and borderline personality traits

Exploring callous-unemotional (CU) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits during adolescence is crucial due to its role in the emergence of personality pathologies. Recent research highlights threat sensitivity and social affiliation as fundamental factors in the etiology of broader interpersonal dysfunctions in personality disorders. Further studies are needed to explore the contributions of these factors to CU and BPD traits, while considering specific parental risk factors within distinct cultural contexts. This study examines the effects of threat sensitivity, social affiliation, and left-behind experience (LBE) on CU and BPD traits in 563 Chinese adolescents. We found that the interaction between threat sensitivity and social affiliation significantly predicts CU traits in adolescents without LBE, where reduced social affiliation amplifies the association between low threat sensitivity and CU traits. Conversely, LBE and a strong need for social affiliation intensify the association between increased threat sensitivity and BPD traits. These findings highlight the specific contributions of dispositional factors to CU and BPD traits, offering insights into their divergent pathways. By elucidating the nuanced interplay of dispositional and parental risk factors, this study enhances our understanding of the predictors of adolescent personality disorders and emphasizes the need for targeted interventions tailored to these dynamics.

Parenting models, spirituality and personality disorders in adolescence

Parenting models, spirituality and personality disorders in adolescence

The relationship between bullying victimization and impairment in personality functioning in a clinical adolescent sample.

Problematic interpersonal relationships may represent both, a risk factor for the development or trigger of personality disorder (PD) symptoms and its consequences. Since peer relationships become more and more important in adolescence, the current study explores the cross-sectional association between recent bullying experiences and levels of impairment in personality functioning according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.) alternative model of personality disorders (AMPD; Criterion A) in help-seeking adolescents (N = 493). Logistic and multiple regression analyses revealed that patients who were frequently bullied in the past 3 months (i.e., at least once a week) were more likely to reach the diagnostic threshold for PD according to the AMPD (OR = 1.71, p = .025) and showed higher levels of impairment in identity (β = .41, p < .001), empathy (β = .26, p = .002), and intimacy (β = .30, p = .001), but not self-direction, compared to patients who did not report any bullying experiences. Occasional bullying in the past 3 months (i.e., every few weeks) was neither associated with a greater likelihood to reach the diagnostic threshold for PD nor with greater impairments in identity, self-direction, empathy, or intimacy compared to no bullying. While the current study provides support for a correlation between bullying experiences and personality dysfunction (particularly in the elements identity and intimacy), longitudinal research is needed to clarify whether experiences of bullying cause or trigger personality dysfunction or/and vice versa. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Alteration of prefrontal cortex and its associations with emotional and cognitive dysfunctions in adolescent borderline personality disorder.

The neurobiological mechanism of borderline personality disorder (BPD) in adolescents remains unclear. The study aimed to assess the alterations in neural activity within prefrontal cortex in adolescents with BPD and investigate the relationship of prefrontal activity with emotional regulation and cognitive function. This study enrolled 50 adolescents aged 12-17 years with BPD and 21 gender and age-matched healthy control (HC) participants. Study assessment for each participant included a brain resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI), clinical assessment questionnaires such as Borderline Personality Features Scale (BPFS), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and cognitive testing with Stroop Color-Word Test (SCWT). Fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and seed-based functional connectivity (FC) were obtained from rs-fMRI analysis. Correlation analysis was also performed to evaluate the associations of the neuroimaging metrics such as fALFF and FC with clinical assessment questionnaire and cognitive testing scores. Adolescents with BPD showed increased fALFF values in the right inferior frontal gyrus and decreased activity in the left middle frontal gyrus as compared to the HC group (p < 0.05, cluster size ≥ 100, FWE correction). In adolescents with BPD, increased fALFF in the right inferior frontal gyrus was related to the BPFS (emotional dysregulation), DERS-F (lacking of emotional regulation strategies) and Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory-4C scores (internal emotional regulation function of self-injurious behavior). The reduced fALFF in the left middle frontal gyrus was associated with the SCWT-A (reading characters) and the SCWT-B (reading color) scores. Additionally, the fALFF values in the left middle frontal gyrus and the right inferior frontal gyrus were related to the CTQ-D (emotional neglect) (p < 0.05). The left middle frontal gyrus exhibited increased FC with the right hippocampus, left inferior temporal gyrus and right inferior frontal gyrus (voxel p < 0.001, cluster p < 0.05, FWE correction). The increased FC between the left middle frontal gyrus and the right hippocampus was related to the SCWT-C (cognitive flexibility) score. We observed diverging changes in intrinsic brain activity in prefrontal cortex, and neural compensatory changes to maintain function in adolescents with BPD. In addition, decreased neural function was closely associated with emotional dysregulation, while increased neural function as indicated by brain activity and FC was associated with cognitive dysfunction. These results indicated that alterations of intrinsic brain activity may be one of the underlying neurobiological markers for clinical symptoms in adolescents with BPD.

Borderline personality disorder in adolescents as a predictor of social anxiety

IntroductionBorderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental disorder characterized by unstable relationships, a tendency to self–destruction, affective and behavioral dysregulation and BPD are a clinical problemObjectivesEarly detection and timely intervention for BPD is becoming a new public health priority as it helps prevent the adverse personal, social and economic consequences of the disorder. Borderline personality disorder first manifests itself, as a rule, in adolescence, so it is easy to mistake it for manifestations of “difficult age” characteristic of the period of growing up. In this sense, the typical signs of borderline personality disorder are not original: low self-esteem, emotional excitability, impulsive behavior and sudden mood swings, to one degree or another characteristic of all adolescents. An alarming exception is, perhaps, only a tendency to self-harm and, the so-called, desocialization of a teenager, the loss of social skills and connections (for example, friendships). Recently, experts have increasingly mentioned desocialization in connection with the development of Internet technologies and gadgets that replace communication in real life for many teenagersMethodsAn anonymous survey of 57 older teenagers conducted. The degree of borderline personality disorder assessed using IPDE, STAI, and CDI. Statistical processing of the results carried out in Microsoft Excel using measures of the central trend (arithmetic mean, standard deviation) and correlation analysis. The significance of the differences between the groups was determined using the Student’s t-test (p &lt; 0.05)ResultsOn average, the level of BPD among the respondents was at a low level of 9.81 (±4.43) points. The severity of personal anxiety was at a high level of 45.02 (±13.25) points, situational anxiety was also at a high level of 41.14 (±14.93). The severity of depression was above average and amounted to 55.84 (±14.33) pointsConclusionsTeenage girls are more prone to anxiety and depression than boys are. High anxiety causes a tendency to depression, and these two factors affect the occurrence of PRL. The average score does not affect the manifestations of anxiety, depression and the occurrence of BPDDisclosure of InterestNone Declared

Systematically Informed Literature Review: What is the Prevalence of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) in Adolescents, 13-17, using DSM-5 Criteria?

IntroductionIn child &amp; adolescent mental health settings, borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a dominant and substantial condition with high occurrence rates seen in community, crisis, and in-patient settings. Previously because of multiple concerns, BPD diagnosis in adolescents was considered questionable and was perceived to be invalid. However, in light of the evidence, recent guidelines and diagnostic manuals affirm the diagnosis in the under-18 population.ObjectivesGiven its existence in adolescents and that DSM-5 (from 2013) allows diagnosing BPD in adolescents, a study was conducted in 2019 to explore what current literature had to say about its prevalence.MethodsTo answer this, a systematically informed literature review tried to look at the evidence. The hypothesis was that not many clinicians or researchers are aware of or using the opportunity to diagnose and thus manage BPD in adolescents, i.e., early in the course of this illness. Four databases were searched- PubMed, Embase, Medline, and Psycinfo- with the following inclusion &amp; exclusion criteria: 1.Age: Adolescents (13-17).2.BPD (disorder not traits or features).3.Language – English, not just the abstract in English.4.Time limit &amp; diagnostic criteria (2013 onwards, DSM-5).5.Full length articles not Abstracts alone.6.No geographical limit.7.Contacted academics personally for additional data.Following search terms were used: Borderline Personality Disorder, BPD, EUPD, Emotionally Unstable Personality disorder, DSM V, DSM 5, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5, DSM-5, Prevalence, Rate.ResultsAll searches yielded 525 results. Other sources didn’t identify any other records to be included. Out of these 525 results, 74 were duplicates. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied on the remaining resources. Of the remaining records, 133 were in language other than English, and thus, were excluded. Remaining 318 articles were assessed for eligibility. Of these, 196 had used diagnostic criteria or rating scales based on previous diagnostic criteria, and thus were excluded. Furthermore, 41 articles had focused on a totally other clinical question than ours. 79 articles had the wrong age range as per our diagnostic criteria. Thus, the total number of articles which met inclusion and exclusion criteria was 02. The results showed higher rates of BPD in adolescents, especially in those exposed to online sexual solicitation (OSS) (355 vs 13%) and in females (80% of cases).Image:Conclusions Despite the research and diagnostic allowance, there still seems to be reluctance among clinicians to diagnose BPD in adolescents. We advise consideration of BPD in adolescents if clinical picture indicates and application of the relevant criteria so patients can get appropriate treatment and support that they need.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Childhood maltreatment and personality disorders in adolescents and adults with psychotic or non-psychotic disorders.

While the attention to personality disorders (PD) and childhood maltreatment (CM) has grown in recent years, there remains limited understanding of the prevalence and distinctions of PD and CM in clinical populations of Chinese adolescents in comparison to adults. A total of 1,417 participants were consecutively sampled from patients diagnosed with either psychotic or non-psychotic disorders in the psychiatric and psycho-counseling clinics at Shanghai Mental Health Center. The participants were categorized into two groups based on their age: adolescents (aged 15-21 years) and adults (aged 22-35 years). PDs were evaluated using a self-reported personality diagnostic questionnaire and a structured clinical interview, while CMs were assessed using the Chinese version of the Child Trauma Questionnaire Short Form. When comparing self-reported PD traits and CM between adolescents and adults, differences emerge. Adolescents, particularly in the psychotic disorder group, exhibit more pronounced schizotypal PD traits (p=0.029), and this pattern extends to non-psychotic disorders (p<0.001). Adolescents in the non-psychotic disorder group also report higher levels of emotional abuse (p=0.014), with a notable trend in physical abuse experiences compared to adults (p=0.057). Furthermore, the most prevalent PDs in the clinical sample are avoidant, borderline, and obsessive-compulsive PDs. Among patients with psychotic disorders, adolescents exhibit higher rates of schizoid, schizotypal, and obsessive-compulsive PDs compared to adults. Logistic regression analyses highlight distinct predictors for psychotic and non-psychotic disorders in adolescents and adults. The findings emphasize distinct differences in PDs and CMs between adolescent and adult groups, shedding light on their potential roles in psychotic and non-psychotic disorders.

Antisocial personality disorder in children and adolescents with refugee/forcible displacement backgrounds

The problematic of integration and social inclusion appears to be highly crucial issue under the prism of societal introduction of children and adolescents possessing refugee/forcibly displacement backgrounds. Besides acute accompanying depression, PTSD, other psycho-emotional disorders related directly to previous traumatic experiences (war, armed conflicts, political, economical insecurity/instability, persecution of an individual, discrimination, degrading treatment etc). The necessity to distinguish specific factors of integration/social inclusion of minors with refugee/forcible displacement backgrounds was posed drastically, once the Russian full-scale invasion on the territory of Ukraine took place on February 24, 2022. The war caused a massive influx of Ukrainian refugees/forcibly displaced persons to the territory of particularly European Union. Among newcomers, there is more than 50% of children/adolescents of different age groups. Under the prism of understanding specific features of going through transitional age in case of all ordinary minors, we have decided to lead a research on development of the antisocial personality disorder in case of minor refuge seekers on the territory of the EU, by bringing as an example actually Ukrainian youth. On the basis of our current research, we have distinguished main differences between ordinary transitional period and IDP in children/adolescents with refugee/forcible displacement backgrounds), as well as provided main reasons, which may cause the development of the analyzed disorder in minors in general.

Age dependent effects of early intervention in borderline personality disorder in adolescents.

Psychological treatments for young people with sub-threshold or full-syndrome borderline personality disorder (BPD) are found to be effective. However, little is known about the age at which adolescents benefit from early intervention. This study investigated whether age affects the effectiveness of early intervention for BPD. N = 626 participants (M age = 15 years, 82.7% female) were consecutively recruited from a specialized outpatient service for early intervention in BPD in adolescents aged 12- to 17-years old. DSM-IV BPD criteria were assessed at baseline, one-year (n = 339) and two-year (n = 279) follow-up. Older adolescents presented with more BPD criteria (χ2(1) = 58.23, p < 0.001) and showed a steeper decline of BPD criteria over the 2-year follow-up period compared with younger adolescents (χ2(2) = 13.53, p = 0.001). In an attempt to disentangle effects of early intervention from the natural course of BPD, a parametrized regression model was used. An exponential decrease (b = 0.10, p < 0.001) in BPD criteria was found when starting therapy over the 2-year follow-up. This deviation from the natural course was impacted by age at therapy commencement (b = 0.06, p < 0.001), although significant across all ages: older adolescents showed a clear decrease in BPD criteria, and young adolescents a smaller decrease. Early intervention appears effective across adolescence, but manifests differently: preventing the normative increase of BPD pathology expected in younger adolescents, and significantly decreasing BPD pathology in older adolescents. The question as to whether developmentally adapted therapeutic interventions could lead to an even increased benefit for younger adolescents, should be explored in future studies.

Enlisting School Faculty to Help Identify Childhood Sexual Abuse in Elementary Students and Prevent Personality Disorders in Adolescents

Through trainings and more research in the field of personality disorders, beneficial changes can be made to improve the lives of children and adolescents.

Adolescents' personhood and the effects of their institutionalization

This paper aims to make a comparison of personality disorders in adolescents in residential care versus adolescents raised in natural families. The aim is to identify differences in personality traits and personal autonomy between adolescents living in residential care and those living in natural families, and to compare personality traits between the two groups, including by gender and age.

Symptoms characteristics of personality disorders associated with suicidal ideation and behaviors in a clinical sample of adolescents with a depressive disorder.

Pathological personality traits have repeatedly been identified as important risk factors for suicidal ideation and behaviors. Moreover, impulsive-aggressive traits, have shown a consistent association with suicidal behaviors across the lifespan. Adolescence represents a critical period for the emergence of different personality traits, mood disorders, and suicidal behaviors, but the relationship between these variables remain poorly understood. These variables were examined in a cross-sectional case-control design involving three groups: 30 adolescents with a depressive disorder and past suicide attempt (Mean Age = 16.2, Females = 26), 38 adolescents with a depressive disorder but without past suicide attempt (Mean age = 16.0, Females = 29), and 34 healthy adolescent controls (Mean age = 15.2, Females = 22). Suicidal ideations were indexed using Suicidal Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ-R), psychiatric disorder assessed using a semi-structured questionnaire (K-SADS-PL), depressive symptoms with the Beck Depressive Inventory (BDI), symptoms characteristics of personality disorders with the Scheduled Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV (SCID-II) screening questionnaire, and impulsivity with the Barratt Impulsivesness Scale (BIS). Findings showed that impulsivity (F = 11.0, p < 0.0001) and antisocial symptoms characteristics of personality disorders (p < 0.001, d = 0.70) displayed the most robust association with adolescent suicide attempts. Borderline symptoms characteristics of personality disorders did not discriminate attempters from non-attempters but presented high correlations with suicidal ideation and depression severity. In an item-wise analysis, suicide attempt status was uniquely correlated with symptoms characteristics of an antisocial personality disorder. Suicide attempt status also correlated with non-suicidal self-injury and a chronic feeling of emptiness. The caveats of this cross-sectional study include the stability of symptoms characteristics of personality disorders in adolescence and the limited sample size. In sum, suicidal behaviors were characteristically correlated with increased impulsivity and antisocial symptoms characteristics of personality disorders, but other symptoms characteristics of personality disorders were relevant to adolescent depression and suicidal ideation. Understanding the emergence of symptoms characteristics of personality disorders and suicidal behaviors in a developmental context can ultimately inform not only the neurobiological origin of suicidal behaviors, but also provide new avenues for early detection and intervention.

Specificity of Insecure Attachment in Adolescents With Borderline Personality Disorder in Psychiatric Inpatient and Community-Dwelling Adolescents.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) has been conceptualized as a disorder of attachment. However, the specificity of attachment insecurity to BPD in adolescents remains unclear. In this study, an inpatient sample (n = 521), of which 173 (33.2%) met the criteria for BPD, and a control sample of community-dwelling adolescents (n = 294) ages 12-17 were compared on a self-report measure of attachment security. In addition, hierarchical regression analyses were carried out to examine the incremental contribution of BPD symptoms, over and above internalizing and externalizing symptoms, in predicting attachment security. Results showed expected group differences such that adolescents with BPD evidenced higher levels of attachment insecurity to both fathers and mothers than psychiatric and community-dwelling controls. BPD features also incremented internalizing and externalizing problems associated with attachment security. However, because psychiatric controls also evidenced high levels of attachment insecurity, we conclude that while attachment insecurity is particularly salient for BPD, it is not necessarily specific to the disorder.

The relationship between mood disorders, personality disorder and suicidality in adolescence: does general personality disturbance play a significant role in predicting suicidal behavior?

IntroductionCurrent research points to the importance personality pathology and Major Depression e as relevant psycopathological risk factors for understanding suicidal risk in adolescence. Literature has mainly focused on the role of BPD, however current orientations in personality pathological functioning suggest that BPD may be the representative of a general personality disturbance, a factor of vulnerability underlying diverse psychopathological variants and aspects of maladaptive functioning. However, recent studies seem to have neglected the contributions that other specific personality disorders and personality pathology as a general factor of vulnerability for suicidality; and only marginally investigated the interaction of personality disorder (PD) as an overall diagnosis and individual PDs and major depression (MDD).In this paper, the independent and cumulative effects of MDD and DSM-IV PDs on suicidal risk are investigated in a sample of adolescents observed in a longitudinal window of observation ranging from three months preceding the assessment to a six-month follow up period of clinical monitoring.MethodsA sample of 118 adolescents (mean age = 15.48 ± 1.14) referred for assessment and treatment on account of suicidal ideation or behavior were administered the CSSRS, SCID II, Kiddie-SADS at admission at inpatient and outpatient Units. All subjects included in the study had reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts at the C-SSRS; The CSSRS was applied again to all patients who reported further suicidal episodes during the six-months follow-up period of clinical monitoring. Dimensional diagnoses of PDs was obtained by summing the number of criteria met by each subject at SCID-%-PD 5, In order, to test the significance of the associations between the variables chosen as predictors (categorical and dimensional PDs and MD diagnosis), and the suicidal outcomes variables suicide attempts, number of suicide attempts and potential lethality of suicide attempt, non-parametric bivariate correlations, logistic regression models and mixed-effects Poisson regression were performed PD.ResultsThe categorical and dimensional diagnosis of PD showed to be a significant risk factors for suicide attempt and their recurrence, independently of BPD, that anyway was confirmed to be a specific significant risk factor for suicidal behaviors. Furthermore, PD assessed at a categorical and dimensional level and Major Depression exert an influence on suicidal behaviors and their lethality both as independent and cumulative risk factors.LimitationsBesides incorporating dimensional thinking into our approach to assessing psychopathology, our study still relied on traditionally defined assessment of PD. Future studies should include AMPD-defined personality pathology in adolescence to truly represent dimensional thinking.ConclusionThese results point to the importance of early identification of the level of severity of personality pathology at large and its co-occurrence with Major Depression for the management of suicidal risk in adolescence.

Cultural Differences, Diagnosis, and the Intervention in Adolescence in Borderline Personality Disorder

The previous study showed that borderline personality disorder was strongly associated with childhood trauma and developed personality traits into adolescence that could lead to borderline personality disorder. Research also indicated a cultural difference in the psychopathology and diagnosis of borderline personality disorder in both adults and adolescents. A borderline personality disorder is a type of personality disorder that has symptoms around unstable emotions, dissociation and fear of being abandoned. Although having deviant behaviour was a significant risk factor in detecting borderline personality disorder, it could be less potent in non-western cultures like China and India. Merging cultural differences and the criteria of borderline personality disorder could accurately detect borderline personality disorder in adolescence. It helped people intervene and treat it earlier to slow the progression of borderline personality disorder. This study focused on reviewing previous research on cultural differences, detection, prevention, and intervention in adolescents with borderline personality disorder. Cultural differences like different social norms or traditions influence individual identity and interpersonal relationships, which are non-negligible components of the period of adolescence that could induce borderline personality disorder if adolescents have issues with those parts. People need to be aware of the symptoms to intervene in borderline personality disorder in adolescents through multiple treatments with an appropriate plan and management, which should focus on psychotherapy, like dialectic behavioural therapy, supportive psychotherapy, and Mentalization-based therapy.

Sub-threshold or full-syndrome borderline personality disorder in adolescents with recurrent self-harm – distinctly or dimensionally different?

BackgroundBorderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe mental disorder frequently seen in individuals with recurrent self-harm behaviour. To what extent there are distinguishing characteristics between self-harming adolescents who meet the criteria for a full diagnosis of BPD, a sub-threshold number of BPD criteria and those who don’t have BPD, with respect to clinical characteristics, is still uncertain and could have important clinical implications.MethodsData from 103 adolescents with recurrent self-harm behaviour recruited from child and adolescent psychiatric outpatient clinics were collected through clinical interviews and self-reports. Bivariate analyses comparing participants with or without a diagnosis of BPD were performed. Group differences based on the number of BPD criteria fulfilled (few-if-any BPD: 0–2 criteria, sub-threshold BPD: 3–4 criteria, full-syndrome BPD: 5 or more criteria) were tested and regression analyses performed.ResultsAdolescents with a diagnosis of BPD (28.2%) had significantly higher numbers of co-morbid DSM-5 disorders, suicide attempts and self-harm methods. They also reported significantly higher levels of suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety and impulsivity, compared with adolescents without BPD. Adolescents with sub-threshold BPD (20.4%) place themselves in the intermediate position between participants with full-syndrome BPD and participants with few-if-any BPD, in terms of these symptoms. Higher levels of emotional regulation difficulties and a lower level of global functioning were significantly associated with fulfilling a higher number of BPD criteria.ConclusionAdolescents with recurrent self-harm who meet diagnostic criteria for a full-syndrome BPD or sub-threshold BPD seem to have difficulties within the same spectrum. They seem dimensionally, but not categorically, different with respect to the severity of their difficulties. These adolescents need interventions aimed at their dysfunctional self-harm behaviour, emotional regulation difficulties and BPD symptoms at an earlier, rather than at a later stage of symptom development.

Mother–child interactions in adolescents with borderline personality disorder traits and the impact of early life maltreatment

BackgroundEarly detection and intervention of borderline personality disorder (BPD) in adolescence has become a public health priority. Theoretical models emphasize the role of social interactions and transgenerational mechanisms in the development of the disorder suggesting a closer look at caregiver-child relationships.MethodsThe current study investigated mother-adolescent interactions and their association with adolescent BPD traits by using a case–control design. Thirty-eight adolescent patients with ≥ 3 BPD traits and their mothers (BPD-G) were investigated in contrast to 35 healthy control dyads (HC-G). Maternal, adolescent and dyadic behavior was coded using the Coding Interactive Behavior Manual (CIB) during two interactions: a fun day planning and a stress paradigm. Additional effects of maternal and/or adolescent early life maltreatment (ELM) on behavior were also explored.ResultsBPD-G displayed a significantly lower quality of maternal, adolescent and dyadic behavior than the HC-G during both interactions. Maternal and adolescent behavior was predicted by BPD traits alone, whilst dyadic behavior was also influenced by general adolescent psychopathology. Exploratory analyses of CIB subscales showed that whilst HC-G increased their reciprocal behavior during stress compared to the fun day planning, BPD-G dyads decreased it. Maternal ELM did not differ between groups or have any effect on behavior. Adolescent ELM was correlated with behavioral outcome variables, but did not explain behavioral outcomes above and beyond the effect of clinical status.Discussion/ConclusionOur data suggest a stronger focus on parent–child interactions in BPD-specific therapies to enhance long-term treatment outcomes in adolescent BPD patients. Further research employing study designs that allow the analyses of bidirectional transactions (e.g. longitudinal design, behavioral microcoding) is needed.

CAMHS Clinician Attitudes to Borderline Personality Disorder in Adolescence Across Scotland.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) clinicians have been reported to hold negative views toward the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD) in adolescence. We aimed to reevaluate with the expectation that recent advances have nurtured more positive attitudes. One hundred ninety clinicians working across CAMHS in Scotland completed a 16-item electronic survey of attitudes to BPD, derived from the Attitudes and Skills Questionnaire. Eighty-three percent of psychiatrists, 72% of nurses, and 37% of psychologists surveyed agreed that BPD is a valid diagnosis in adolescence, and 92%, 74%, and 44%, respectively, were willing to make this diagnosis. CAMHS clinicians were more optimistic compared with clinicians working in adult mental health services. CAMHS clinicians' responses may indicate increased acceptance of BPD in the adolescent population. There is a thirst for workforce education and training. Consideration should be taken to actively move the focus of identification and diagnosis of BPD into CAMHS rather than the current culture of late diagnosis.