Borderline personality disorder symptoms and severity of sexual abuse

Abstract

Ongoing sexual abuse may be a strong determinant of specific aspects of the disordered interpersonal behavior and functioning found in patients with borderline personality disorder. The expectation that the world is an empty, malevolent place may have some of its roots in the repetition of sexual abuse experiences in childhood. This expectation of malevolence among patients with borderline personality disorder may manifest itself in psychotherapy through regressive and distancing behavior.