Borderline personality disorder and perceived family dysfunction in the eating disorders.

Borderline personality disorder is associated with anorexic and bulimic disorders, but the factors that underlie that association are not understood. This study of a case series of eating disordered women investigates the potential role of perceived family dysfunction as one critical explanatory factor. The syndrome and symptoms of borderline personality disorder are associated with specific features of perceived family interaction. Possible causal mechanisms are proposed to explain the links among family dysfunction, borderline personality disorder, and the eating disorders, although further research is needed to test these models. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.