Sociodemography of borderline personality disorder (PD): a comparison with Axis II PDs and psychiatric symptom...

A theoretical objective of the present meta-analysis based upon data derived from a previously reported review (Taub, 1995), was to test two inductive hypotheses empirically regarding educational background and social class across different criteria for the DSM-III diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (PD). A secondary purpose was to determine whether comorbidity of borderline PD with other Axis II PDs would significantly delineate socioeducational variables. Across 7/8 pairwise contrasts which represented five studies, distribution of Hollingshead Redlich (H-R) social classes II-IV borderline PD (N = 326) significantly exceeded that in 457 diagnostic controls with Axis II PDs and psychiatric symptom disorders. Although average differences, as well as, interactions reflected by values of the H-R two-factor scale attained statistical significance these were were less consistent in magnitude and direction versus outcomes yielded by distribution of social classes. For the borderline PD diagnosis, the inductive hypotheses were substantiated by findings of significantly advanced scholastic achievement, as well as the younger age of most cohorts versus diagnostic controls with Axis II PDs and psychiatric symptom disorders; and in pairwise contrasts of outpatients with hospitalized cohorts. Comorbidity of the borderline PD diagnosis was associated with significantly lower social class, scholastic achievement and to a lesser extent, more severe psychopathology. Evidence for predominantly convergent validation relative to the socioeducational variables was substantiated by comparisons with (a) cohorts selected by criteria of the DSM-III-R, Gunderson's DIB and Borderline Personality Scale: (b) Norwegian females admitted to Gaustad Hospital and (c) patients with the DSM-III diagnosis of borderline PD attending an outpatient clinic in Norway.