Borderline personality symptomatology and legal charges related to drugs.
OBJECTIVE
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is associated with high lifetime prevalence rates of substance abuse as well as higher-than-expected rates of charges for various drug-related crimes and criminal behavior in general. However, whether criminal charges for assault and disorderly conduct are related specifically to drug misuse remains unknown - the focus of the present study.


METHODS
Using a cross-sectional sample and a self-report survey methodology among a sample of 237 consecutive internal medicine outpatients, we examined: (1) BPD symptomatology using two self-report measures and (2) five charges for illegal behaviors defined as related to drugs.


RESULTS
While there were no between-group differences with regard to drug-abuse violations (i.e., possession, sale, or use of illegal drugs), in participants with BPD symptomatology there was more probability to be charged with assault and disorderly conduct related to drug use as well as driving under the influence and drunkenness/public intoxication.


CONCLUSIONS
The criminal behaviors of assault and disorderly conduct observed in BPD appear to be related, at least in part, to comorbid substance abuse.
Departments of Psychiatry and Internal Medicine, Wright State University School of Medicine , Dayton, OH , USA.
Randy A
RA
Sansone
Daron A
DA
Watts
Michael W
MW
Wiederman
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003415:Crime / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D057237:Criminals / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
Borderline personality; Self-Harm Inventory; borderline personality disorder; criminal behavior; illegal behavior; substance abuse