Borderline personality and depressive symptomatology: Common psychosocial predictors and comorbidity

Objective: Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and the affective disorders, in particular depression, share some overlap in symptomatology and a set of common psychosocial determinants. The purpose of the current study was to provide further evidence informing debates of diagnostic distinction by quantifying (1) self-reported symptomatic comorbidity of the two disorders and (2) relative contributions of parental bonding and early maladaptive schemas to adult levels of borderline and depressive symptomatology. Method: A general population sample of 411 participants, ranging from 18 to 65 years (99 males and 312 females), completed the questionnaire package. Results: Retrospectively reported level of parental care was found to account for significant unique variance in adult borderline and depressive symptomatology. Furthermore, schemas of the Disconnection/Rejection domain and others were found to significantly and concordantly predict both borderline and depressive symptomatology. Participants reporting substantive levels of borderline symptoms also reported depressive symptoms outside the normal range. Conclusions: These findings support significant overlap in the symptomatology, co-severity and psychosocial determinants of BPD and depression. These data have implications for the management and early prevention of both depression and BPD.