Child Abuse & Borderline Personality Disorder

This brief article from the Mayo Clinic’s “Ask a Mental Health Specialists” page mentions the connection between childhood trauma and an increased risk of borderline personality disorder (BPD).

Child abuse: A cause of borderline personality disorder?

Wikipedia has an in-depth article on its site, excerpted below:

Childhood abuse, neglect or separation

Numerous studies have shown a strong correlation between child abuse, especially child sexual abuse, and development of BPD.[6][52][53][54][55] Many individuals with BPD report having had a history of abuse, neglect, or separation as young children.[56] Patients with BPD have been found to be significantly more likely to report having been verbally, emotionally, physically, and sexually abused by caregivers of either gender. They were also much more likely to report having caregivers (of both genders) deny the validity of their thoughts and feelings. They were also reported to have failed to provide needed protection, and neglected their child’s physical care. Parents (of both sexes) were typically reported to have withdrawn from the child emotionally, and to have treated the child inconsistently. Additionally, women with BPD who reported a previous history of neglect by a female caregiver and abuse by a male caregiver were consequently at significantly higher risk for being sexually abused by a noncaregiver (not a parent).[57] It has been suggested that children who experience chronic early maltreatment and attachment difficulties may go on to develop borderline personality disorder.[58]

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We should always remember that we have the ability to choose our actions, so these findings are in no way a life sentence. However, it is so important to have scientific evidence that validates why mental illnesses like BPD occur. Understanding the cause of our present-day pains and frustrations is a crucial first step to eliminating them.