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Understanding the Relationship Between Sleep Problems in Early Childhood and Borderline Personality Disorder: A

Isabel Morales-Muñoz1,2, Buse Beril Durdurak1, Ayten Bilgin3

  • 1Institute for Mental Health, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.

Nature and Science of Sleep
|January 5, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Childhood sleep problems may precede borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptoms. Biological and family factors may explain the link between early sleep issues and BPD development, suggesting potential for early interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Childhood sleep problems are increasingly recognized as potential precursors to adult mental health conditions.
  • Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a complex disorder with significant impact on individuals and public health.
  • The specific mechanisms linking early sleep disturbances to BPD development remain largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore potential mechanisms explaining the association between early sleep problems and the development of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) symptoms.
  • To utilize the biosocial developmental model of BPD as a framework for understanding this relationship.
  • To synthesize current research on sleep disturbances and BPD in childhood and adolescence.

Main Methods:

  • A narrative review of peer-reviewed literature published between January 1991 and April 2021.
  • Literature searches were conducted using PubMed and Embase with keywords including sleep problems, BPD, HPA axis, prefrontal cortex, and emotion regulation.
  • Ninety-six articles were included, focusing on human studies and reviews, excluding commentaries and animal studies.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests biological factors (e.g., Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis activity) and core BPD features mediate the link between early sleep and later BPD.
  • Family-related factors, such as psychopathology and disrupted attachment, may act as common risk factors for both sleep problems and BPD.
  • Sleep disruption may impact emotion regulation and impulsivity, core components of BPD.

Conclusions:

  • The biosocial developmental model of BPD offers a viable framework for understanding how sleep disruption may contribute to BPD.
  • Further research into developmental pathways and early interventions targeting sleep is crucial.
  • Understanding the sleep-BPD association can inform targeted therapeutic strategies for improved clinical outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
adolescencebiosocial developmental modelborderline personality disorderchildhoodmechanismssleep

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