Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Examining the Discriminant Validity of Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms: Results From a United Kingdom Population Sample

Hyland, Philip; Karatzias, Thanos; Shevlin, Mark; Cloitre, Marylene

Authors

Philip Hyland

Mark Shevlin

Marylene Cloitre



Abstract

Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) was added to the diagnostic nomenclature in the 11th version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Although considerable evidence exists supporting the construct validity of CPTSD, the distinguishability of CPTSD symptoms from those of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) has been questioned. This study examined the discriminant validity of CPTSD and BPD symptoms among a trauma-exposed population sample from the United Kingdom (N = 546). Participants completed self-report measures of CPTSD and BPD symptoms, and their latent structure was assessed using exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM). A three-factor model with latent variables reflecting ‘PTSD, ‘Disturbance in Self-Organization’ (DSO), and ‘BPD’ symptoms provided the best fit of the data (χ2 (399) = 1650, p < .001; CFI = .944; TLI = .930; RMSEA = .077 [90% CI = .073 - .081]). Multiple symptoms were identified distinguishing each construct (e.g., disturbed relationships and suicidality), as well as symptoms shared across the constructs (e.g., affective dysregulation). The PTSD (β = .24), DSO (β = .23), and BPD (β = .27) latent variables were positively and significantly associated with childhood interpersonal trauma. The current findings support the discriminant validity of CPTSD and BPD symptoms, highlight some of the phenomenological signatures of each construct, but also show how these constructs share important similarities in symptom composition and exogenous correlates.

Citation

Hyland, P., Karatzias, T., Shevlin, M., & Cloitre, M. (2019). Examining the Discriminant Validity of Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms: Results From a United Kingdom Population Sample. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 32(6), 855-863. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22444

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 24, 2019
Online Publication Date Nov 21, 2019
Publication Date 2019-12
Deposit Date May 29, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Journal of Traumatic Stress
Print ISSN 0894-9867
Electronic ISSN 1573-6598
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 32
Issue 6
Pages 855-863
DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22444
Keywords Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Complex PTSD (CPTSD); Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD); comorbidity; exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM); ICD-11.
Public URL http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1836561