Informed consent for research in Borderline Personality Disorder.
BACKGROUND
Previous research on informed consent for research in psychiatric patients has centered on disorders that affect comprehension and appreciation of risks. Little has been written about consent to research in those subjects with Borderline Personality Disorder, a prevalent and disabling condition.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite apparently intact cognition and comprehension of risks, a borderline subject may deliberately choose self-harm in order to fulfill abnormal psychological needs, or due to suicidality. Alternatively, such a subject may refuse enrollment due to transference or the desire to harm him or herself. Such phenomena could be precipitated or prevented by the interpersonal dynamics of the informed consent encounter.


CONCLUSIONS
Caution should be exercised in obtaining informed consent for research from subjects with Borderline Personality Disorder. A literature review and recommendations for future research are discussed.
Dew
Rachel E
RE
Center for Spirituality, Theology, and Health, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA. red@geri.duke.edu
D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D032882:Comprehension; D032984:Ethics, Research; D006805:Human Experimentation / Q000941:ethics*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics*; D016743:Mental Competency; D018579:Patient Selection / Q000941:ethics*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000941:ethics*; D035842:Research Subjects / Q000523:psychology*; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior