Subjective Cognitive Complaints and Symptom Severity in Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) may include rigid thoughts, interpersonal difficulties, unstable identity, and the presentation of intense and volatile emotions; the leading indicator for this condition is symptom severity (SS). Within this spectrum, there could be subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) that may worsen the severity of the clinical condition. The present study aimed to compare SCC scores between BPD participants and a group of control subjects (CS) and to determine the association between BPD symptom severity and SCC in participants with BPD.

102 participants with BPD and 73 CS participants from Ramon de la Fuente Muñiz National Institute of Psychiaty were included. In order to measure symptom severity, participants responded to the Borderline Evaluation of Severity Over Time (BEST) scale, and for SCC through the Cognitive Complaints in Bipolar Disorder Rating Assessment (COBRA) scale.

COBRA total scores were higher in participants with BPD (26.9 ± 9.3) compared to CS (12.9 ± 6.8; t = -10.8, p < 0.001). Positive correlations resulted between the COBRA total score and the BEST dimensions of thoughts and feelings (r = 0.38, p < 0.001), Negative behaviors (r = 0.30, p < 0.002), and the Total BEST score (r = 0.38, p < 0.001).

Participants of this study experience high levels of SS, which includes the constant presence of harmful and intrusive thoughts and feelings, as well as dysfunctional behaviors. This clinical context correlates positively with a high report of SCC, thus highlighting the importance of evaluating SCC as a relevant factor of patients' clinical experience and considering it within their personal needs to improve the course and prognosis throughout their treatment.