NEUROCOGNITIVE HETEROGENEITY IN BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER: THE ROLE OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE

Authors

  • Horus Laffite Cabrera Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España. Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Dr. Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0513-3174
  • Fernando Rodríguez-Otero Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Dr. Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España. https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9344-5207
  • Raquel Alonso-Sosa Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España. Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Dr. Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8835-8765
  • José L. Hernández-Fleta Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España. Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Dr. Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8083-9647
  • María F. Martínez-Huidobro Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Dr. Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España. https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3681-4332
  • Juan Antonio Díaz-Garrido Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España. Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Dr. Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España. Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Fernando Pessoa Canarias (UFP-C), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9713-8177

Abstract

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is strongly associated with borderline personality disorder (BPD). This cross-sectional study investigated clinical and neurocognitive differences in 193 women aged 20 to 39 years diagnosed with BPD, comparing those with a history of CSA (n = 78) and those without (n = 115). Participants completed standardized psychometric and neuropsychological assessments focused on impulsivity, core BPD symptoms, and cognitive functioning. Women with CSA showed greater clinical severity, including higher rates of self-harm, suicide attempts, dissociative and psychotic symptoms, along with elevated impulsivity and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)–related traits. Neuropsychological testing revealed significant deficits in attention, processing speed, and cognitive flexibility, along with lower performance on Stroop tasks assessing divided attention and interference control. While working memory and verbal fluency differences remained within normative ranges, age-stratified analysis revealed marked long-term memory impairments in the CSA group aged 30–39. These results suggest that neurocognitive deficits in BPD are not universal but may reflect the cumulative impact of early trauma and age. Trauma-informed assessment and tailored cognitive interventions may support more accurate profiling and inform tailored therapeutic strategies in this high-risk subgroup.

Keywords: Borderline personality disorder; Childhood sexual abuse; Executive functions; Verbal memory; Emotional dysregulation.

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Published

16.05.2026

How to Cite

Laffite Cabrera, H., Rodríguez-Otero, F., Alonso-Sosa, R., Hernández-Fleta, J. L., Martínez-Huidobro, M. F., & Díaz-Garrido, J. A. (2026). NEUROCOGNITIVE HETEROGENEITY IN BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER: THE ROLE OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE. Panamerican Journal of Neuropsychology, 20(2), 93–111. Retrieved from https://cnps.cl/index.php/cnps/article/view/628

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 2 (2026): CNPs

Section

Clinical Neuroscience, Trauma, and Intervention

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Horus Laffite Cabrera, Fernando Rodríguez-Otero, Raquel Alonso-Sosa, José L. Hernández-Fleta, María F. Martínez-Huidobro, Juan Antonio Díaz-Garrido

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