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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and borderline personality disorder.

Davids E, Gastpar M

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Duisburg-Essen - Rhine Clinics Essen - Virchowstrasse 174, 45147 Essen, Germany. eugen.davids@uni-essen.de

To evaluate the association between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD) in adulthood, a systematic review of published follow-up data, mainly from observational studies was done. Electronic databases Medline, PsychInfo and PSYNDEXplus were searched from their earliest entries. All studies suggested significant relationships between ADHD and BPD. From a phenomenological point of view there seem to exist some similarities between these two disorders: deficits in affect regulation and impulse control, substance abuse, low self esteem and disturbed interpersonal relationship are common in both conditions. From a neuropsychological point of view dissociation in BPD might be regarded as a special form of behavioral inhibition and sustained attention comparable to ADHD. Possible therapeutic strategies of comorbid ADHD and BPD are discussed.

Published 5 August 2005 in Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry, 29(6): 865-77.
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