S. Bellino, E. Paradiso, C. Zanon, F. Bogetto - Vol. 10, June 2004, Issue 2
Testo Immagini Bibliografia Summary Indice
Relazione tra life-event ed episodio depressivo
maggiore in pazienti con disturbo borderline di personalità
Relationship between life-events and major depressive episode in patients
with borderline personality disorder
Objective
nvestigations of relationship between major
events in patient’s life and borderline personality disorder (BPD) showed
a likely association with childhood traumatic experiences while the role of
stressors in adulthood remains unclear. The aim of our study is to compare
number, severity and type of life-events (LE) in the 6 months before the onset
of a major depressive episode (MDE) between two subgroups of patients with
BPD and with other personality disorders (PDs).
Methods
153 consecutive outpatients with a diagnosis of personality disorder who
presented a MDE were included and divided in two subgroups: with BPD and with
other PDs. LE occurred in the 6 months before the onset of MDE were identified
using the Paykel’s List of Recent Life Events.
Statistical analysis was performed using Student t-test to compare the frequency
of events most commonly found in BPD patients.
Results
No significant differences of number and severity of LE were found between
subgroups, although BPD patients showed a trend for a higher number and a
lower score of stressors.
Considering the most common events in BPD subgroup, two of them showed a significant
difference if compared with the control subgroup with other PDs: increased
arguments with resident family members (p = 0,0005) and hospitalization of
family member (serious illness) (p = 0,002).
Conclusions
LE preceding the onset of MDE in borderline patients do not significantly
differ from the control group. On the contrary, a significant association
was found between BPD and events of conflict and loss that appear related
to the psychopathology of the disorder.