Impulsivity, defensive functioning, and borderline personality disorder.

Objective: To replicate previous research suggesting that impulsivity highly predicts current DIB(R) score and social functioning, with the additional inclusion of other measures, including defensive functioning.

Method: Correlational analyses between impulsivity and other measures, and regression analyses with DIB(R) and SAS-SR as outcome measures, and impulsivity and other measures as predictor variables, were performed on data derived from n = 57 initially borderline personality disorder (BPD) subjects recruited as part of a 7-year follow-up study of BPD.

Results: Data showed strong correlations between the elements of impulsivity described previously and defensive functioning. The initial study results were repeated, and only a minor contribution from defensive functioning additionally contributed to the regression models. No other variables entered the model, unless anger was dropped from the variables entered into the analysis.

Conclusions: The results may contribute to a better definition of the term "impulsivity" as related to BPD, and may lead to further, improved research into the cause, treatment, and prognosis of BPD.