Are borderline personality symptoms associated with compulsive sexual behaviors among women in treatment for substance use disorders? An exploratory study
Open accessAbstract
Objective: Extant literature has documented a significant relationship between borderline symptoms and substance use disorders. As supported in past work, there is a significant theoretical relationship between borderline symptoms and compulsive sexual behaviors because both disorders share common underlying behaviors and traits. There is no known research that has examined the empirical relationship between borderline symptoms and compulsive sexual behaviors in a population with substance use disorders. To fill this important gap in the literature, this relationship was examined in the current study. Method: Medical records from 120 women admitted to a private, residential treatment program for substance use disorders were reviewed for the current study. Results: Hierarchical multiple regression analysis demonstrated that borderline symptoms were significantly associated with compulsive sexual behaviors after controlling for alcohol use and problems, drug use and problems, age, and positive impression management. Conclusion: Results from this study provide potentially important research and clinical implications, which could ultimately aid treatment and reduce relapse. However, continued research is needed to further examine the relationship between symptoms and compulsive sexual behaviors.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Elevated rates of compulsive sexual behaviour have also been found among individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, PTSD, paraphilias, and erectile dysfunction.
“Elevated rates of compulsive sexual behaviour have also been found among individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) 260 , bipolar disorder 261 , borderline personality disorder 257,262 , PTSD 263 , paraphilias 264 , and erectile dysfunction 264,265 .”
From Emerging experience with selected new categories in the <scp>ICD</scp>‐11: complex <scp>PTSD</scp>, prolonged grief disorder, gaming disorder, and compulsive sexual behaviour disorder (2022) · cites this paper as [262]
The Abstract reports high comorbidity between compulsive sexual behaviours and borderline symptoms, and the Discussion reports a significant association in women receiving treatment for substance use disorders. This supports the borderline-related part of the sentence, but the paper studies symptoms rather than diagnosed borderline personality disorder and does not establish elevated rates for all individuals with that disorder. The other listed conditions have separate citations and are not assessed here. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
American Psychiatric Association (2013) · doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596 · Cited by 116,369 · see citing works
SAUNDERS, J. B., AASLAND, O. G., BABOR, T. F., DE LA FUENTE, J. R., & GRANT, M. (1993) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.1993.tb02093.x · Cited by 13,482 · see citing works
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR)
American Psychiatric Association (2000) · doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890423349 · Cited by 11,069 · see citing works
Verdejo‐García, A., Lawrence, A. J., & Clark, L. (2008) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2007.11.003 · Cited by 1,414 · see citing works
Bowen, S., Witkiewitz, K., Clifasefi, S. L., Grow, J., Chawla, N., Hsu, S. H., Carroll, H. A., Harrop, E., Collins, S. E., Lustyk, M. K., et al. (2014) · JAMA Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.4546 · Cited by 701 · see citing works
Cybersex users, abusers, and compulsives: New findings and implications
Cooper, A., Delmonico, D. L., & Burg, R. (2000) · Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity · doi:10.1080/10720160008400205 · Cited by 590 · see citing works
Borderline personality disorder and substance use disorders A review and integration
Trull, T. (2000) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/s0272-7358(99)00028-8 · Cited by 520 · see citing works
Attachment Studies with Borderline Patients: A Review
Agrawal, H. R., Gunderson, J., Holmes, B. M., & Lyons-Ruth, K. (2004) · Harvard Review of Psychiatry · doi:10.1080/10673220490447218 · Cited by 495 · see citing works
Tomko, R. L., Trull, T. J., Wood, P. K., & Sher, K. J. (2014) · Journal of Personality Disorders · doi:10.1521/pedi_2012_26_093 · Cited by 483 · cited 1× · see citing works
“Furthermore, findings from the current study could be interpreted as consistent with theoretical literature proposing that impulsivity is a defining characteristic of borderline symptoms and compulsive sexual behaviors (e.g., Lloyd et al., 2007; Tomko et al., 2014).”
ResultAlcohol Use Disorders Identification Test
Rebecca, B. (2010) · doi:10.4135/9781412964500.n20 · Cited by 481 · see citing works
Carnes, P., Green, B., & Carnes, S. (2010) · Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity · doi:10.1080/10720161003604087 · Cited by 244 · see citing works
Behavioral Addictions: An Overview
Karim, R., & Chaudhri, P. (2012) · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs · doi:10.1080/02791072.2012.662859 · Cited by 239 · cited 1× · see citing works
“In the current study, compulsive sexual behaviors will be used to refer to problematic sexual behaviors to be consistent with the terminology used in the assessment measure used for the present study and recent research (Karim & Chaudhri, 2012; Najavits et al., 2014).”
MethodBorderline personality disorder features in nonclinical young adults: 2. Two-year outcome.
Trull, T. J., Useda, D., Conforti, K., & Doan, B.-T. (1997) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037//0021-843x.106.2.307 · Cited by 229 · see citing works
Stuart, G. L., Moore, T. M., Kahler, C. W., & Ramsey, S. E. (2003) · Substance Abuse · doi:10.1080/08897070309511539 · Cited by 182 · see citing works
Self-citationA Preliminary Investigation of the Relationships Between Dispositional Mindfulness and Impulsivity
Peters, J. R., Erisman, S. M., Upton, B. T., Baer, R. A., & Roemer, L. (2011) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-011-0065-2 · Cited by 171 · see citing works
Handbook of addictive disorders: a practical guide to diagnosis and treatment
(2004) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.42-2250 · Cited by 166 · see citing works
Borderline personality disorder features in nonclinical young adults: 2. Two-year outcome.
Trull, T. J., Useda, J. D., Conforti, K., et al. (1997) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037/0021-843x.106.2.307 · Cited by 162 · see citing works
Coleman, E. (1987) · Journal of Chemical Dependency Treatment · doi:10.1300/j034v01n01_11 · Cited by 126 · see citing works
Kruedelbach, N., McCormick, R. A., Schulz, S. C., & Grueneich, R. (1993) · Journal of Personality Disorders · doi:10.1521/pedi.1993.7.3.214 · Cited by 125 · see citing works
Stuart, G. L., Moore, T. M., Ramsey, S. E., & Kahler, C. W. (2004) · Journal of Studies on Alcohol · doi:10.15288/jsa.2004.65.46 · Cited by 125 · see citing works
Self-citationDarke, S. G., Williamson, A., Ross, J. E., Teesson, M., & Lynskey, M. T. (2004) · Drug and Alcohol Dependence · doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2003.12.002 · Cited by 112 · see citing works
Bargains with chaos: Sex addicts and addiction interaction disorder
Carnes, P. J., Murray, R. E., & Charpentier, L. (2005) · Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity · doi:10.1080/10720160500201371 · Cited by 99 · see citing works
Jacobo, M., Blais, M. A., Baity, M. R., & Harley, R. M. (2007) · Journal of Personality Assessment · doi:10.1080/00223890709336837 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
Blum, K., Werner, T. L., Carnes, S., Carnes, P. J., Bowirrat, A., Giordano, J., Oscar‐Berman, M., & Gold, M. S. (2012) · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs · doi:10.1080/02791072.2012.662112 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Bornovalova, M. A., & Daughters, S. B. (2007) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2007.01.013 · Cited by 70 · see citing works
Expanding the Scope of Dual Diagnosis and Co-Addictions: Behavioral Addictions
Freimuth, M., Waddell, M., Stannard, J., Kelley, S., Kipper, A., Richardson, A., & Szuromi, I. (2008) · Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery · doi:10.1080/15560350802424944 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
An empirical examination into the sexuality of women with borderline personality disorder
Hurlbert, D. F., Apt, C., & White, L. C. (1992) · Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy · doi:10.1080/00926239208403409 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Scott Τ Wilson, Fertuck, E. A., Kwitel, A., Stanley, M. C., & Stanley, B. (2006) · International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health · doi:10.1515/ijamh.2006.18.1.189 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Darke, S. G., Ross, J. E., Williamson, A., & Teesson, M. (2005) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2005.01123.x · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Are some motives more linked to suicide proneness than others?
Holden, R. R., Kerr, P. S., Mendonca, J. D., & Velamoor, V. R. (1998) · Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-4679(199808)54:5 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Borderline Personality Features Predict Alcohol Use Problems
Stepp, S. D., Trull, T. J., & Sher, K. J. (2005) · Journal of Personality Disorders · doi:10.1521/pedi.2005.19.6.711 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Tull, M. T., & Gratz, K. L. (2011) · Drug and Alcohol Dependence · doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.08.014 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
Sexual behavior in borderline personality: a review.
(2011) · Europe PMC (PubMed Central) · Cited by 50 · see citing works
McKeague, E. L. (2014) · Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity · doi:10.1080/10720162.2014.931266 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Borderline Personality Disorder and Impulsive Sexual Behavior
Hull, J. W., Clarkin, J. F., & Yeomans, F. E. (1993) · Psychiatric Services · doi:10.1176/ps.44.10.1000 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Compulsive Sexual Behavior and its Relationship to Risky Sexual Behavior
Miner, M. H., & Coleman, E. (2013) · Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity The Journal of Treatment and Prevention · doi:10.1080/10720162.2013.768133 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Borderline Personality Traits in Individuals with Compulsive Sexual Behavior
Lloyd, M. D., Raymond, N. C., Miner, M. H., & Coleman, E. (2007) · Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity The Journal of Treatment and Prevention · doi:10.1080/10720160701480337 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Gender-related differences in the associations between sexual impulsivity and psychiatric disorders
Erez, G., Pilver, C. E., & Potenza, M. N. (2014) · Journal of Psychiatric Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2014.04.009 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Lee, H., Bagge, C. L., Schumacher, J. A., & Coffey, S. F. (2010) · Personality Disorders Theory Research and Treatment · doi:10.1037/a0017647 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Shorey, R., Anderson, S., & Stuart, G. L. (2014) · Journal of Interpersonal Violence · doi:10.1177/0886260514548586 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Self-citationA Study of Multiple Behavioral Addictions in a Substance Abuse Sample
Najavits, L. M., Lung, J., Froias, A., Paull, N., & Bailey, G. L. (2013) · Substance Use & Misuse · doi:10.3109/10826084.2013.858168 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Elmquist, J., Shorey, R. C., Anderson, S. E., & Stuart, G. L. (2015) · Addiction Research & Theory · doi:10.3109/16066359.2015.1025063 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Self-citationRoller, C. G. (2004) · Journal of Addictions Nursing · doi:10.1080/10884600490450263 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Dispositional Mindfulness and Aggression Among Women in Residential Substance Use Treatment
Shorey, R. C., Elmquist, J., Anderson, S. E., & Stuart, G. L. (2015) · Substance Use & Misuse · doi:10.3109/10826084.2015.1050112 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Self-citationNo Stones: Women Redeemed from Sexual Addiction
Ferree, M. C. (2010) · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Wright, P. J. (2010) · Psychological Reports · doi:10.2466/02.13.15.21.pr0.107.4.236-244 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Washton AM 1989 Cocaine may trigger sexual compulsivity US Journal of Drug and Alcohol Dependency 13 8
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Reed, G. M., First, M. B., Billieux, J., Cloitre, M., Briken, P., Achab, S., Brewin, C. R., King, D. L., Kraus, S. W., & Bryant, R. A. (2022) · World Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/wps.20960 · Cited by 182 · see citing works
An integrated model to assess and treat compulsive sexual behaviour disorder
Briken, P. (2020) · Nature Reviews Urology · doi:10.1038/s41585-020-0343-7 · Cited by 101 · see citing works
Kowalewska, E., Gola, M., Kraus, S. W., & Lew-Starowicz, M. (2020) · Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment · doi:10.2147/ndt.s221540 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
The Development and Validation of the Bergen–Yale Sex Addiction Scale With a Large National Sample
Andreassen, C. S., Pallesen, S., Griffiths, M. D., Torsheim, T., & Sinha, R. (2018) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00144 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Assessment and treatment of compulsive sexual behavior disorder: a sexual medicine perspective
Briken, P., Bőthe, B., Carvalho, J., Coleman, E., Giraldi, A., Kraus, S. W., Lew-Starowicz, M., & Pfaus, J. G. (2024) · Sexual Medicine Reviews · doi:10.1093/sxmrev/qeae014 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Finkenstaedt, M., Biedermann, D., Schröder, J., Mazinan, R. G., Fuß, J., & Biedermann, S. V. (2024) · Journal of Behavioral Addictions · doi:10.1556/2006.2024.00003 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Complex psychiatric comorbidities in Thai trans women: A case series
Wainipitapong, S., Burakitpachai, S., & Bumphenkiatikul, T. (2022) · F1000Research · doi:10.12688/f1000research.75144.1 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Wei-ming, X., Zhang, H.-F., Feng, Y.-H., Li, S.-J., & Xie, B.-Y. (2024) · World Journal of Clinical Cases · doi:10.12998/wjcc.v12.i14.2359 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Out-of-Control Sexual Behavior in Women
Montgomery-Graham, S. (2017) · Current Sexual Health Reports · doi:10.1007/s11930-017-0125-2 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Finkenstaedt, M., Biedermann, D., Biedermann, S. V., & Fuß, J. (2025) · Journal of Behavioral Addictions · doi:10.1556/2006.2025.00028 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Hypersexual Behaviors and Personality Traits in Men with Substance Use Disorders in Iran
Hashemi, S. G. S. (2020) · Journal of Psychosexual Health · doi:10.1177/2631831819898564 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Kim, M.-G., An, J., Chung, S.-J., & Suh, K. (2026) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-025-08662-6
- Authors
- Elmquist, J., Shorey, R. C., Anderson, S., & Stuart, G. L.
- Affiliations
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville (US)
- Ohio University (US)
- Cornerstones of Recovery
- Corresponding author
- Elmquist, JoAnna
- Venue
- Journal of Clinical Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2016-04-05
- Volume
- 72
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1077-1087
- ISSN
- 0021-9762 (ISSN-L)
- 1097-4679
- PMC
- PMC5030119
- OpenAlex
- W2340003624
- Cited by
- 13
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 0.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Journal of Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (K24AA019707)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Gambling Behavior and Treatments
- Keywords
- borderline symptoms, compulsive sexual behavior, substance use disorders, women, residential treatment, comorbidities, alcohol use problems, drug use problems, impression management
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Borderline Personality Disorder, Compulsive Behavior, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Sexual Behavior, Comorbidity, Substance-Related Disorders
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
