Parent-child relationship associated with the development of borderline personality disorder: A systematic review.

The parent-child relationship (PCR) is considered as a central factor in most contemporary theories on the aetiology of borderline personality disorder (BPD). This systematic review aimed to answer the three following questions: (1) How is the PCR described by BPD participants and their parents in comparison to other normative and clinical groups? (2) Which aspects of the PCR are specifically associated with a BPD diagnosis in adulthood? (3) How can the facets of the PCR identified in the reviewed studies shed light on the general aetiological models of BPD? Forty studies were retained and divided into three categories: perspective of BPD probands, perspective of their parents and perspective of family. Borderline personality disorder participants consistently reported a much more dysfunctional PCR compared to normal controls. Comparisons with participants presenting DSM-IV Axis-I and Axis-II disorders were a lot less consistent. BPD probands rated more negatively the PCR compared to their parents. Low parental care and high parental overprotection may represent a general risk factor for psychopathology, different from normal controls but common to BPD and other mental disorders. An interesting candidate for a specific PCR risk factor for BPD appears to be parental inconsistency, but further studies are necessary to confirm its specificity.