Borderline personality features among individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P): A brief report

Abstract

Aim: This exploratory study reports on borderline symptomatology within a sample of individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P) through a validated, self-report instrument, the short version of the Borderline Symptom List (BSL-23).

Methods: The sample consisted of 44 help-seeking CHR-P youth (ages 14-29 years) who completed an initial evaluation at a specialized clinic for psychosis-risk.

Results: The mean BSL-23 score was 1.5 (SD = 1.0, range 0.1-4.0). Higher scores were strongly associated with greater reported depressive symptoms (r = 0.84, p < 0.001). Additionally, borderline symptoms associated with attenuated positive symptoms (r = 0.32, p = 0.034) and social anxiety (r = 0.34, p = 0.027). Borderline symptomatology was not associated with role or social functioning.

Conclusions: This study is one of the first examinations of borderline symptomatology within a CHR-P sample through a validated self-report measure. Future research replicating these results is required to determine their robustness.

Keywords: borderline personality disorder; clinical high risk; comorbidity; psychosis; schizophrenia.