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Updated: May 27, 2026

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
Published on: March 8, 2018
Sexual behaviour and borderline personality disorder among female psychiatric inpatients
Randy A Sansone1, Jamie W Chu, Michael W Wiederman
1Department of Psychiatry, Wright State University School of Medicine, Dayton, OH, USA. Randy.sansone@khnetwork.org
Objective:
The objective of the present study was to explore various facets of sexual behaviour in those with borderline personality disorder (BPD).
Method:
Using a cross-sectional approach and a sample of convenience, we surveyed 126 female psychiatric inpatients regarding their sexual histories as well as BPD symptoms on two self-report measures.
Results:
Compared to participants who were not positive on both measures of BPD (the nonBPD group; n = 52), those who were positive on both measures (the BPD group; n = 70) reported a greater number of sexual partners, and were more likely to report having been raped by a stranger and having been coerced to have sex. There were no between-group differences with regard to age at menarche, age of first intercourse, total number of times treated for a sexually transmitted disease, having experienced date rape or rape by a partner, or having had homosexual experiences.
Conclusions:
The psychological themes associated with the positive findings in this study appear to reflect both impulsivity and victimization - psychological themes that are evident in other behaviours in those with BPD.
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