Borderline personality disorder symptoms as predictors of 4-year romantic relationship dysfunction in young women: addressing issues of specificity

The relationships between romantic relationship dysfunction and symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD), other personality disorders, and depression were examined prospectively in a community sample of 142 late adolescent women. Although BPD symptoms predicted 4-year romantic dysfunction (romantic chronic stress, conflicts, partner satisfaction, abuse, and unwanted pregnancy), the associations were not unique to BPD. Instead, relationship dysfunction was better predicted by a cumulative index of non-BPD Axis II pathology. Depression did not predict outcomes uniquely when Axis II symptoms were included, except in the case of unplanned pregnancy. The results suggest that although BPD is associated with relationship dysfunction, the effect is a more general phenomenon applying rather broadly to Axis II pathology. The results also highlight the importance of subclinical psychopathology in the construction of early intimate relationships.