P0056 - Sexual behavior and borderline personality disorders

Abstract

Background:

A great deal of knowledge has been accomplished along the last 20 years in the study of borderline personality disorder(BPD). However, the sexual functioning of individuals with BPD still remains to be well explored, and no systematic survey in the literature is available.

Aim:

To find out in the medical literature evidence of problematical sexuality in patients with BPD.

Method:

A literature search conducted via PubMed and Psycinfo using the terms "borderline personality disorder" and "sexuality".

Results:

The literature on the sexuality of BPD has focused mainly on two aspects of sexual dysfunction: a) promiscuous sexual behavior as a manifestation of impulsivity, and b) homosexual orientation as a manifestation of the identity problems that affect many BPD patients.

Moreover, the research findings provided information about problems with respect to intimate and sexual relations. BPD have significantly more relationship problems regarding sex, greater sexual boredom, avoidance of sex, greater sexual preoccupation, sexual depression, and sexual dissatisfaction.

Conclusion:

Sexual functioning may be relevant for the clinical course of BPD, so clinicians should pay attention to the sexuality of BPD patients, and to the sexual parameters of their intimate relationships.