title: Distinguishing borderline personality disorder from adult attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a clinical and dimensional perspective.
abstract: Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is frequently associated with borderline personality disorder (BPD). As both disorders share some core clinical features they are sometimes difficult to distinguish from one another. The present work aimed to investigate differences in the expression of impulsivity, anger and aggression, quality of life as well as the number and severity of the comorbidities between ADHD, BPD, comorbid BPD-ADHD and control subjects. ADHD and BPD-ADHD patients showed a higher level of impulsivity than BPD and control subjects. BPD-ADHD patients had higher levels of substance abuse/dependence and higher levels of aggression than the other groups. Comorbid BPD-ADHD patients showed high levels of impulsivity and aggression, a characteristic that should draw the attention of clinicians on the necessity of providing an accurate diagnosis. The question also arises as to whether they represent a distinct clinical subgroup with specific clinical characteristics, outcomes and vulnerability factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Service of Psychiatric Specialties, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Paco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prada
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetic and Laboratories, Psychiatric Genetic Unit, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hasler
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Service of Psychiatric Specialties, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baud
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Service of Psychiatric Specialties, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bednarz
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Endodontology, Treatment Plan Unit and Division of Operative Dentistry, Dental School, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ardu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Endodontology, Treatment Plan Unit and Division of Operative Dentistry, Dental School, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Krejci
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Service of Psychiatric Specialties, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Rosetta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nicastro
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Service of Psychiatric Specialties, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Aubry
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Service of Psychiatric Specialties, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: nader.perroud@hcuge.ch.
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Perroud
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression; D000786:Anger; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015897:Comorbidity; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: ADHD; Aggression; Anger; Child maltreatment; Impulsivity; Psychiatry