Role of Sexual Abuse in Etiology of Borderline Personality Disorder

In summary, Zanarini has collected a series of important studies that provide a balanced view of the contribution of early childhood trauma to the development of BPD in adults. Both her own work and that of the investigators whose research reports comprise the book chapters support a multifactorial model of the etiology of BPD.

For those who want to understand more clearly the relationship between sexual abuse and long-term effects, this book offers a model for cogent and reasoned analysis of claims about the consequences of being sexually abused.

[T]he thoroughness and depth of study provided in this book will make it essential reading for anyone contemplating research in this area.... Researchers investigation personality disorders will find this text to be of great use. However, practicing therapists will also find that his book stimulates their conceptualizations and treatment plans of BPD clients.

It is fascinating, however, to read some of the more recent endeavors in this rapidly evolving field. While much to the work is research-based, this volume in my view has useful input for clinical work also, and is likely to provide some validation for clinicians about how environments which may not initially appear horrific may lead to major personality disorders.

This book would be well suited for a library. It is a concentrated reference source on par with special-issue journals. The purpose and format encourage individual thought within the field of mental health. It is an excellent resource for those interested in keeping up with current research on borderline personality disorder and has a format that encourages thought.

Over the years, borderline personality disorder (BPD) has been conceptualized in a variety of ways. However, recent research has consistently found that a history of childhood sexual abuse may affect its development. Role of Sexual Abuse in the Etiology of Borderline Personality Disorder explores the most recent advances regarding this highly controversial disorder, presenting the research and expertise of 26 distinguished contributors.

This book provides both the factual and the historical contexts of sexual abuse in BPD. It presents the latest findings regarding the impact of traumatic childhood experiences on the development of BPD. This new generation of research is unique in that it assesses a range of pathological childhood experiences rather than focusing solely on the parameters of abuse.

This book covers many topics, including evolving perspectives on the etiology of BPD, childhood factors associated with the development of BPD, and the relationship between self-destructive behavior and pathological childhood experiences in BPD. In addition, highly regarded clinicians in this area describe useful clinical approaches to the treatment of borderline patients with an abuse history. This volume offers invaluable information for clinicians treating borderline patients with or without an abuse history.

Mary C. Zanarini, Ed.D., is Director of the McLean Study of Adult Development and the Laboratory for the Study of Adult Development at McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts. Dr., Zanarini is also Assistant Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.