Sexual Issues over Time

Abstract

We studied two types of sexual issues over time. The first issue was sexual relationship difficulties, which we defined as avoiding sex for fear of becoming symptomatic, or becoming symptomatic after having sex. The second issue was sexual orientation and gender of relationship choice. At six-year follow-up, we found that sexual relationship difficulties were significantly more common among borderline patients than among Axis II comparison subjects, although the rate was declining in both study groups. At 16-year follow-up, the same pattern was found for non-recovered versus recovered borderline patients. In terms of the second issue, patients with BPD were significantly more likely than Axis II comparison subjects to report homosexual or bisexual orientation and intimate same-sex relationships. In addition, patients with BPD were significantly more likely than Axis II comparison subjects to report changing the gender of intimate partners, but not sexual orientation, at some point during the follow-up period.