Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 19: Alcohol use disorders affect more than half of individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD), according to a major meta-analysis, underlining the urgent need for integrated screening and treatment strategies to improve long-term psychiatric outcomes.
Borderline personality disorder is a complex psychiatric condition marked by emotional instability, impulsivity and interpersonal difficulties. Previous research has indicated a strong association between BPD and substance misuse, particularly alcohol, though prevalence estimates have varied widely across studies.
Alcohol misuse is known to aggravate symptom severity, heighten the risk of self-harm and complicate treatment adherence. Experts say accurate prevalence data is critical to identifying vulnerable patients early and developing coordinated management approaches that address both psychiatric symptoms and harmful drinking behaviours.
The meta-analysis and meta-regression reviewed 15 studies involving 15,603 individuals aged 18 years or older with BPD. Researchers searched multiple major databases through March 2024 and followed established systematic review guidelines.
The pooled findings showed that 55.28 per cent of individuals with BPD had alcohol use disorders. Of these, 44.59 per cent met criteria for alcohol dependence, while 18.84 per cent were classified as having alcohol abuse. In comparison, alcohol use disorder prevalence in the general population is estimated at 8.6 per cent among men and 1.7 per cent among women, indicating a substantially higher burden among those with BPD.
Researchers said the findings confirm that alcohol-related disorders are a common and clinically significant comorbidity in BPD, warranting routine assessment in psychiatric care settings.
The study highlights the importance of dual-diagnosis approaches that simultaneously address alcohol misuse and borderline personality disorder. Early detection and coordinated psychological and addiction-focused interventions could help reduce complications, improve treatment adherence and enhance overall prognosis.