The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Well-Being of People With Borderline Personality Disorder: A National Australian Study

Abstract

Social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic was a significantly destabilizing factor for people with borderline personality disorder (BPD). The aim of this study was to investigate the well-being of Australians diagnosed with BPD during the initial lockdown to restrict the spread of COVID-19. An online survey asked Australian residents (≥ 18 years) who self-identified with having a diagnosis of BPD, about their experience of “coronaphobia” using the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) as well as using open- and close-ended questions to measure demographic and health information. The CAS data were analyzed descriptively. The World Health Organisation definition of health was used for deductive thematic analysis of qualitative data. Thirty-five (24.5%) of the 143 participants who completed the CAS, experienced dysfunctional COVID-19 related anxiety. Nearly half (n = 76; 46.1%) reported that their mental health became a lot worse. Utilizing the WHO definition of health, two main themes were identified: (1) Physical Health, and (2) Mental and Social Well-being. Both themes included three subthemes that were variously affected by the national lockdown. Following the imposition of social restrictions to control the spread of the coronavirus, many people living with BPD experienced heightened challenges and greater vulnerability to adverse outcomes attributable to their underlying mental health symptoms.