RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER: MORPHOPHYSIOLOGICAL AND EPIGENETIC PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is characterized by emotional lability, distortions in self-image, and a persistent sense of emptiness. Difficulty in regulating intense emotional responses, compounded by fear of abandonment, contributes to interpersonal conflicts and deficits in various life spheres. Childhood trauma is identified as the primary environmental element associated with BPD. Studies reveal that among individuals diagnosed with this disorder, 30% to 90% experienced some form of abuse or neglect during their childhood. The relationship between childhood trauma and BPD is complex, with trauma functioning as triggers for disorder characteristics. In this context, the present work aimed to explore the clinical, neurological, and epigenetic implications of this relationship, highlighting its multifaceted etiology, encompassing morphophysiological and epigenetic mechanisms associated with childhood trauma as a risk factor for BPD, contributing to a deeper and more informed understanding of this complex condition. Thus, a systematic literature review was conducted considering the last 26 years. The research was conducted in the databases of SCIELO, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science.gov, resulting in 839 articles, of which 55, selected by inclusion criteria, served as the basis for this study. Upon completing the review, a significant correlation between childhood trauma and the development of BPD was found. The interconnection between biological, genetic, and environmental factors highlights the ongoing need for investigation and in-depth understanding of these elements to inform therapeutic approaches and effective interventions in the context of BPD.