Cited by 320Personality Disorders and PsychopathologyChild Abuse and TraumaPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research

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Borderline personality disorder and childhood trauma: Evidence for a causal relationship

Ball, Jeffrey S., Links, Paul S.·2009·Current Psychiatry Reports

DOI 10.1007/s11920-009-0010-4

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Abstract

The debate over whether childhood trauma is a causative factor in the development of borderline personality disorder continues in the literature despite decades of research. This review examines this body of literature published from 1995 through 2007 to assess the strength of evidence for such a causal relationship. A unique conceptual approach was used, as we considered the literature in the context of Hill's classic criteria for demonstrating causation. Results of this review suggest that evidence supports the causal relationship, particularly if the relationship is considered as part of a multifactorial etiologic model. Directions for future research and clinical implications are discussed.

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“Among individuals with personality disorders, rates of childhood trauma are high (73% report abuse, of which 34% is sexual abuse, and 82% report neglect; Ball & Links, 2009; Chanen & Kaess, 2012).”
Background
Childhood adversity and borderline personality disorder: a meta‐analysis
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Authors: Ball, J. S., & Links, P. S.
Affiliations: St. Michael's Hospital (CA)
Corresponding author: Ball, Jeffrey S.
ORCID: Ball, Jeffrey S.
Links, Paul S.
Venue: Current Psychiatry Reports
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2009-01-22
Volume: 11
Issue: 1
Pages: 63-68
ISSN: 1523-3812 (ISSN-L)
1535-1645
DOI: 10.1007/s11920-009-0010-4
OpenAlex: W1994608326
Cited by: 320
References: 53
Citations by year: 2026: 10 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 33 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 10
FWCI: 1.21
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations: Current Psychiatry Reports (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Keywords: borderline personality disorder, childhood trauma, causal relationship, etiology, multifactorial etiology, quality of evidence
MeSH terms: Adult, Borderline Personality Disorder, Brain, Child, Child Abuse, Child Abuse, Sexual, Cross-Sectional Studies, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Life Change Events, Object Attachment, Risk Factors, Self Concept, Causality

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Borderline personality disorder and childhood trauma: Evidence for a causal relationship

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