Factor Structure of Borderline Personality Disorder Criteria

Abstract

During the past few decades, researchers have used factor analysis to study the relationship between the symptoms manifested in borderline personality disorder (BPD). Much debate has occurred in the literature about the underlying factor structure of the BPD symptoms. The present study used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to compare the unidimensional model, Becker, McGlashan, and Grilo's (2006) four-factor model, Clarkin, James, and Hurt's (1993) four-factor model, Clarkin et al.'s (1993) three-factor model, and Sanislow, Grilo, and McGlashan's (2000) three-factor model on a general sample. Clarkin et al.'s (1993) four-factor model had the lowest AIC value, indicating that this model provided more information than the other models. Future research may include transformation of item scores, structural equation modeling with a variation of Sanislow et al.'s (2000) three-factor model, or cluster analysis concerning BPD subtypes.