Neuropsychological factors associated with borderline pathology in children.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether children with borderline pathology have a specific pattern of neuropsychological risk factors.


METHODS
The subjects were 94 school-age children in day treatment, divided into borderline (n = 41) and nonborderline (n = 53) groups according to results of the Child version of the Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines. All children were assessed with the Child Behavior Checklist, the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children, and a neuropsychological battery.


RESULTS
Children with borderline pathology had abnormal scores on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and on the Continuous Performance Test, both of which suggested problems with executive function. Although borderline pathology was highly comorbid with conduct disorder, most results were independent of this comorbidity.


CONCLUSIONS
Borderline pathology in children has a unique pattern of neuropsychological risk factors that may reflect a diathesis for this syndrome.
Paris
J
J
Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Zelkowitz
P
P
Guzder
J
J
Joseph
S
S
Feldman
R
R
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests