Comparison of the Phenomenology of Hallucination and Delusion Characteristics in People Diagnosed With Borderline Personality Disorder and Schizophrenia.
Zalie Merrett, David J Castle, Neil Thomas, Wei Lin Toh, Josephine Beatson, Jillian Broadbear, Sathya Rao, Susan L Rossell
Journal of personality disorders August 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1521/pedi.2022.36.4.413 via PubMed
Summary
Hallucinations and delusions are common in borderline personality disorder (BPD) and often resemble those in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. In a study of 89 adults, 81% of those with BPD reported visual and tactile hallucinations, 75% reported olfactory hallucinations, and 94% experienced delusions. Comparing BPD with and without voices showed no significant differences in nonpsychotic psychopathology. Hallucinations in BPD were similar to those in schizophrenia, though the BPD group had higher rates of paranoia and delusions of guilt. Multisensory hallucinations and delusions in BPD warrant clinical attention.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 89 |
| Population | Adults with borderline personality disorder or schizophrenia spectrum disorders |
| Keywords | Borderline personality disorder Delusions Hallucinations Schizophrenia Voices |
| Key finding | Multisensory hallucinations and delusions are prevalent in BPD and are similar to those in schizophrenia, with higher paranoia and guilt delusions in BPD. |
Abstract
Hallucinations and delusions in borderline personality disorder (BPD) are understudied. The authors explore the phenomenology of multisensory hallucinations and delusions in individuals with BPD and compare them to those in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). Clinical psychopathology was also explored. Eighty-nine adults participated and were categorized into four groups: BPD with voices, BPD without voices, SSD with high BPD traits, and SSD with low BPD traits. Among individuals with BPD, 81% reported visual and tactile hallucinations, 75% reported olfactory hallucinations, and 94% experienced delusions. When comparing BPD with and without voices, there were no significant differences in nonpsychotic psychopathology. Slight differences were found when hallucinations in BPD were compared with hallucinations in SSD, but overall the experiences were similar across diagnoses. The BPD group also reported significantly higher rates of paranoia/suspiciousness and delusions of guilt than the SSD group. Multisensory hallucinations and delusions occur in BPD and should be explored when treating people with BPD.