Substance Abuse in Borderline Personality Disorder: Clinical and Etiological Correlates

This work examines differences between female borderline patients with and without substance abuse problems and between borderline patients from different treatment settings. Borderline patients were recruited from mental health services and addiction treatment services, and were compared with regard to both clinical and etiological factors. Patients with substance abuse problems reported less hostility, suspicion, and anger but more anxiety, insufficiency, and suicide attempts. No empirical justification was found for the exclusion of borderline patients with substance abuse problems from general treatment services or clinical trials. (38 refs)