Citation

Harned MS, Rizvi SL, Linehan MM. Am. J. Psychiatry 2010; 167(10): 1210-1217.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Washington; and the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, N.J.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, American Psychiatric Association)

DOI

10.1176/appi.ajp.2010.09081213

PMID

20810470

Abstract

Objective: The authors examined the impact of co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on women with borderline personality disorder who had attempted suicide in the preceding year. Method: Female borderline personality disorder outpatients (N=94) either with (N=53, 56.4%) or without PTSD (N=41, 43.6%) and with recent and repeated suicidal or self-injurious behavior were compared in nine areas of functioning. Results: Borderline personality disorder patients with and without PTSD differed in the lethality, intent, and triggers for intentional self-injury, trauma history, emotion regulation, and axis I comorbidity. The two groups did not differ in borderline personality disorder severity, axis II comorbidity, psychosocial functioning, or mental health or medical treatment utilization. Conclusions: The results indicate greater impairment among individuals with both disorders and suggest that there are some unique features associated with co-occurring borderline personality disorder and PTSD that require further attention in assessment and treatment.

Language: en