Cognitive Profile of Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder

Abstract

Background: the relevance of this study stems from the difficulties in diagnosing borderline personality disorder (BPD) and the importance of studying neurocognitive functioning for expanding the understanding of mental disorders. The available data on the cognitive profile of patients with BPD vary markedly. We could not find any studies in this area in a domestic sample. The aim of the study was to investigate the cognitive profile of patients with BPD. Patients and methods: 50 patients (72% women; n = 36; 28% men; n = 14) aged 22.4 ± 4.3 years with ICD-10 diagnosis F60.31 “Emotionally unstable personality disorder, borderline type” were examined. The research methods included clinical and scale assessment: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Hamilton Depression Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, SCL-90 symptom questionnaire, Borderline Personality Disorder Questionnaire, Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia. Results: the obtained data indicate the presence of cognitive impairment in patients with BPD. The structure of neurocognitive deficit includes impairments of working and verbal memory and attention. The severity of BPD is associated with lower cognitive functioning. No correlation between affective symptomatology in BPD and the degree of cognitive impairment was found.