Women's experiences of borderline personality disorder in the perinatal period

Background/Aims Women with borderline personality disorder are a vulnerable group. This critical review aimed to understand the experiences of mothers with borderline personality disorder in the perinatal period. Methods CINAHL, PubMed, APAPsych and the Psychology and Behavioural Sciences collection were searched for primary research studies or systematic reviews. These articles were critically appraised and analysed narratively. Results Maternal borderline personality disorder has links to poor neonatal and obstetric outcomes and can impact mother–infant attachment. Women diagnosed with borderline personality disorder experienced stigma and judgement, both from healthcare professionals and the wider community. Some reported positive perceptions of dialectical behaviour therapy interventions, but these did not seem to affect symptoms of the disorder or mother–infant attachment. Conclusions The mechanism by which maternal borderline personality disorder affects poor obstetric and neonatal outcomes remains unclear. The parenting behaviours of mothers with borderline personality disorder and negative experiences of care may contribute to poorer outcomes. Implications for practice For some mothers with borderline personality disorder, group-based dialectical behaviour therapy appeared to offer benefit. However, there is limited research exploring the experiences of these mothers during the perinatal period.