The purpose of the present study was to understand the nature and the features of borderline psychopathology, especially self-destructive behavior which was a core problematic symptom in a clinical practice, and to build a foundation for a future ther...
The purpose of the present study was to understand the nature and the features of borderline psychopathology, especially self-destructive behavior which was a core problematic symptom in a clinical practice, and to build a foundation for a future therapeutic intervention for borderline personality disorder. For this purpose, I attempted to examine the features of childhood trauma and self-destructive behavior which borderline subjects had experienced, and searched for differences in diagnostic and clinical features of borderline psychopathology according to whether borderline subjects had experienced childhood sexual abuse or not. Also, I tried to clarify the role of emotional vulnerability, early maladaptive schemas(EMSs), and the protective factors(e.g., social problem-solving ability, coping belief, and positive interpersonal relationships) on the relationship between childhood trauma and self-destructive behavior.
There were ninety participants in the study. The focal group consists of thirty one subjects with borderline personality disorder. The first comparison group consists of thirty subjects with Axis I psychiatric disorders or other Axis II personality disorders. The second comparison group consists of twenty nine normal controls. All subjects were interviewed using the Revised Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines(DIB-R) and the Revised Childhood Experience Questionnaire(CEQ-R), and completed packets of self-report questionnaires including Parental Bonding Inventory(PBI), Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire(SBQ), Beck's Scale of Suicide Ideation(SSI), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory(STAXI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI), Beck Hopeless Scale(BHS), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale(BIS), Mood Survey(MS), Young's Schema Questionnaire(YSQ), Social Problem Solving Inventory(SPSI), and Reasons for Living Inventory(RFL). Socio-demographic and clinical variables were compared between the groups by means of ANOVA followed by post-hoc Duncan tests for continuous variables and chi-square tests for categorical variables. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis, multiple regression mediation analysis and structural equation modeling(covariance structure analysis) were used to clarify the relationships between childhood trauma, borderline psychopathology, and self-destructive behavior.
There are eight findings that merit summarization here. First, out of female borderline subjects 68.0% reported a childhood history of sexual abuse(CSA) and 32.0% experienced serious sexual abuse such as penetration with object/finger 4.0%, attempted intercourse 16%, and completed intercourse 12%. The lifetime parasuicide rate of borderline subjects was 74.2%. Self-cutting(45.16%) and overdosing(41.93%) were also commonly reported methods. In addition, borderline subjects reported more suicidal ideation and had higher estimations of future suicide attempts than the two comparison groups.
Second, the borderline subjects showed more childhood traumatic experiences, emotional vulnerability, EMSs and self-destructive behaviors, and less social problem-solving ability than the two comparison groups.
Third, the borderline subjects with childhood sexual abuse(CSA) complained less of suicidal ideas and psychological distress and showed more impulsive behaviors including sexual promiscuity and parasuicide behaviors than the borderline subjects without CSA.
Fourth, after controlling for witnessing of violence, non-sexual abuse(i.e., verbal, emotional and physical abuse) and neglect, CSA was significantly associated with borderline psychopathology measured by DIB-R. However, after controlling for other traumatic experiences, there was no significant association between CSA and self-destruction such as suicidal ideation, the frequency of parasuicide, or the possibility of future suicide attempt. This result indicated that CSA was not as important as other traumatic experiences in explaining self-destruction. Other types of trauma such as non-sexual abuse, neglect, and witnessing of violence were more strongly associated with borderline psychopathology and self-destruction. Above all, chances of witnessing violence and neglect were risk factors, while positive interpersonal relationships were a protective factor reducing the rate of parasuicide.
Fifth, trauma in early childhood and latency period was significantly associated with borderline psychopathology and self-destruction.
Sixth, after controlling for the chances of witnessing violence and positive interpersonal relationships, abuse from mother was significantly related to borderline psychopathology, suicidal ideation and the possibility of future suicidal attempts. Abuse and repeated brief separation from mother were significantly associated with frequency of parasuicide.
Seventh, multiple regression mediation analysis revealed that the relation between childhood trauma and self-destruction was partially mediated by emotional vulnerability, EMSs and a protective factor such as social problem-solving ability, coping belief and positive relationship.
Finally, covariance structure analysis on the data revealed that childhood trauma had a direct and indirect effect on self-destruction through EMSs, protective factors, and emotional vulnerability. And it was revealed that EMSs and protective factors had an indirect effect on self-destruction through emotional vulnerability.
These findings would have clinical implications for the understanding of borderline psychopathology and self-destructive behavior, and its treatment. Some limitations of the present study are small sample size, retrospective and cross-sectional study, problem of comorbid psychopathology, and etc. Issues for further study were discussed.