Aims: The first aim of the present
study is to assess the overlap between
borderline and schizotypal traits
during adolescence. The second
objective is to examine whether some
psychological factors (i.e. cognitive
coping mechanisms, impulsivity and
encoding style) are differentially
related to borderline and schizotypal
traits and may therefore improve the
efficiency of clinical assessments.
Methods: One hundred nineteen
community adolescents (57 male)
aged from 12 to 19 years completed
a set of questionnaires evaluating
the expression of borderline and
schizotypal traits as well as cognitive
emotion regulation (CER), impulsivity
and encoding style.
Results:Our data first yielded a strong
correlation between borderline and
schizotypal scores (r = 0.70, P <
0.001). Secondly, linear regression
models indicated that the ‘catastrophizing’
CER strategy and the ‘lack
of premeditation’ impulsivity facet
accounted for the level of borderline
traits, whereas an internal encoding
style predominantly explained
schizotypal traits.
Conclusions: Our results support the
abundant literature showing that
borderline and schizotypal traits
frequently co-occur. Moreover, we
provide original data indicating that
borderline and schizotypal traits
during adolescence are linked to
different specific psychological mechanisms.
Thus, we underline the
importance of considering these
mechanisms in clinical assessments,
in particular to help disentangle
personality disorder traits in youths