DISSOCIATION IN FEMALE-PATIENTS WITH BORDERLINE AND NONBORDERLINE PERSONALITY-DISORDERS

The purpose of this study was to examine the phenomenology and etiology of dissociation in borderline and nonborderline personality disorders. A sample of 150 women with personality disorders was divided into a borderline group (n = 78) and a nonborderline group (n = 72). Dissociation was measured by scores on the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) and by scores on three factors derived from the DES. The psychological risk factors that were examined in relation to dissociation included childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse, separation or loss, and abnormal parental bonding. The results showed that DES scores and all three DES factor scores were higher in the borderline group. None of the psychological risk factors was related to either DES or the DES factors. It is hypothesized that constitutional factors could be involved in the dissociative phenomena of BPD.