A family history study of borderline subtypes

First-degree relatives of 26 hospitalized borderline (BPD) probands were compared to first-degree relatives of 59 schizophrenics using Family History - RDC. Relatives of borderline patients had significantly higher rates of depression, alcoholism, and antisocial personality disorder, but equal rates of familial schizophrenia compared to relatives of schizophrenic patients. Familial depression was prominent among relatives of patients with BPD, independent of depression in the proband. Familial schizophrenia was found only among the relatives of BPD patients who were also identified as schizotypal (SPD). This study supports the relationships of BPD to the affective spectrum and suggests a relationship of severe forms of concurrent borderline and schizotypal personality disorder (BPD/SPD) to the schizophrenia spectrum.