Borderline Personality Disorder Features and History of Childhood Maltreatment in Mothers Involved With Child Protective Services

• NCJ Number: 239816
• Journal: Child Maltreatment Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2012 Pages: 182-190
• Author(s): Francheska Perepletchikova; Emily Ansell; Seth Axelrod
• Date Published: May 2012
• Length: 9 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the history of childhood maltreatment and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) symptoms in mothers whose children were removed from the home by Child Protective Services (CPS).

Abstract

This study examines the history of childhood maltreatment and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) symptoms in mothers whose children were removed from the home by Child Protective Services (CPS) to identify potential targets for future intervention efforts. Forty-one mothers of children removed from the home due to abuse and/or neglect and 58 community-control mothers without CPS involvement were assessed for history of childhood maltreatment, alcohol and drug use, and BPD features. CPS-involved mothers scored significantly higher on measures of childhood maltreatment history and BPD features than did control mothers. The highest BPD scores were associated with the most severe histories of mothers' childhood maltreatment. In total, 50 percent of CPS-involved mothers reported elevated BPD features, compared with 15 percent of control mothers. Further, 19 percent of CPS-involved mothers had self-reported scores consistent with a BPD diagnosis, compared with 4 percent of control mothers. BPD features rather than maltreatment history per se predicted maternal involvement with CPS, controlling for alcohol and drug use predictors. The present data suggest that evidence-based treatments to address BPD symptoms may be indicated for some CPS-involved parents. Abstract published by arrangement with Sage Journals.