Age-related differences in borderline personality disorder traits and childhood maltreatment: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: This study investigates age-related differences in Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) traits and childhood maltreatment (CM) experiences among adolescents, young adults, and older adults within a clinical sample.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed, involving 2029 outpatients aged 15-50 years from the Shanghai Mental Health Center. BPD traits were assessed using the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire 4th Edition Plus (PDQ-4+), and CM experiences were evaluated using the Child Trauma Questionnaire Short Form (CTQ-SF). Participants were categorized into three age groups: adolescents (15-21 years), young adults (22-30 years), and older adults (31-50 years).

Results: Adolescents reported significantly higher frequencies of BPD traits and diagnoses compared to young adults and older adults (=0.036). Specifically, identity disturbance and impulsivity were more pronounced in adolescents (<0.001). Additionally, adolescents reported higher levels of emotional (=15.987, <0.001) and physical abuse (=12.942, =0.002), while older adults reported higher levels of emotional and physical neglect. Logistic regression analysis identified key BPD criteria and CM subtypes that differentiated adolescents from adults.

Discussion: The findings underscore the importance of age-specific interventions in treating BPD and addressing childhood maltreatment. Adolescents exhibit distinct patterns of BPD traits and CM experiences, necessitating tailored therapeutic approaches.