Age-related differences in borderline personality disorder symptom networks in a transdiagnostic sample
Abstract
Background Naturalistic longitudinal studies of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) indicate that symptoms improve over time. In the present study, we applied network theory to the question of how BPD symptom networks may differ as a function of age.Methods In a transdiagnostic sample of 5,212 patients presenting for acute psychiatric treatment, we administered a measure of BPD symptoms and then used a novel machine learning technique to test the hypothesis that symptom networks would significantly differ across the age of participants.Results Results supported two significant differences in the BPD symptom network that emerged at age 46. In older participants, the relationships among symptoms of non-suicidal self-injury/suicide and emptiness was weaker, yet the relationship between anger and relationship problems was stronger. No differences emerged for relationships between all other symptoms.Limitations Given the cross-sectional nature of this study, the potential influence of cohort effects cannot be ruled out.Conclusions These findings support the utility of network theory for elucidating potential pathways by which the relationships between symptoms of BPD may differ as a function of age in treatment-seeking individuals. In parallel, results of this study support the highly central role of strong emotions in BPD regardless of age.
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Naturalistic longitudinal studies indicate that BPD symptoms improve over time.
“Naturalistic longitudinal studies of BPD indicate that symptoms improve over time (10).”
From Age-related differences in borderline personality disorder traits and childhood maltreatment: a cross-sectional study (2025) · cites this paper as [10]
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- Authors
- Peckham, A. D., Jones, P., Snorrason, I., Wessman, I., Beard, C., & Björgvinsson, T.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Peckham, Andrew D.
- Venue
- Journal of Affective Disorders
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2020-09
- Volume
- 274
- Pages
- 508-514
- ISSN
- 0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3033423723
- Cited by
- 28
- References
- 54
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2
- FWCI
- 2.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (F32 MH115530)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Mental Health Research Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Bipolar Disorder and Treatment
- Keywords
- borderline personality disorder, symptom networks, age differences, network theory, non-suicidal self-injury, suicide, emptiness, anger, relationship problems, transdiagnostic symptoms, symptom relationships, treatment-seeking patients
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Borderline Personality Disorder, Cross-Sectional Studies, Emotions, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Middle Aged, Psychotherapy
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