Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder as a potentially aggravating factor in borderline personality disorder.
BACKGROUND
Clinical experience suggests that people with borderline personality disorder often meet criteria for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, empirical data are sparse.


OBJECTIVE
To establish the prevalence of childhood and adult ADHD in a group of women with borderline personality disorder and to investigate the psychopathology and childhood experiences of those with and without ADHD.


METHODS
We assessed women seeking treatment for borderline personality disorder (n=118) for childhood and adult ADHD, co-occurring Axis I and Axis II disorders, severity of borderline symptomatology and traumatic childhood experiences.


RESULTS
Childhood (41.5%) and adult (16.1%) ADHD prevalence was high. Childhood ADHD was associated with emotional abuse in childhood and greater severity of adult borderline symptoms. Adult ADHD was associated with greater risk for co-occurring Axis I and II disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
Adults with severe borderline personality disorder frequently show a history of childhood ADHD symptomatology. Persisting ADHD correlates with frequency of co-occurring Axis I and II disorders. Severity of borderline symptomatology in adulthood is associated with emotional abuse in childhood. Further studies are needed to differentiate any potential causal relationship between ADHD and borderline personality disorder.
Philipsen
Alexandra
A
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany.
Limberger
Matthias F
MF
Lieb
Klaus
K
Feige
Bernd
B
Kleindienst
Nikolaus
N
Ebner-Priemer
Ulrich
U
Barth
Johanna
J
Schmahl
Christian
C
Bohus
Martin
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011599:Psychopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index