Borderline Personality DisorderTLURNCT07337889
Conceptualizing Borderline Personality Disorder as a Relationship Use Disorder
A study testing Relationship-use questionnaire in people with Borderline Personality Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), run by University Hospital, Montpellier at 1 site in France.
Trial summary
This study aims to explore a novel conceptualization of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) as a "Relationship Use Disorder." The research proposes that BPD shares key features with behavioral addictions, specifically addiction to interpersonal relationships. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 45 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Borderline Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Bipolar Disorder (BD)
- What is being tested?
- Relationship-use questionnaire
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 194 participants
- Where
- 1 siteFrance
- Study dates
- 1 Jun 2026to 1 Aug 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 45 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- General : aged 18-45
- Specific :
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD)assessed by SCID, without bipolar disorder
- Bipolar disorder (assessed by SCID), without BPD (evaluated by SCID)
- Healthy controls with no psychiatric disorders (screened by SCID).
Who cannot join
- Psychotic disorders (evaluated by SCID)
- lack of informed consent
- Not affiliated with social security
- Under judicial or administrative confinement or involuntary hospitalization
- Protected by law (e.g., under guardianship)
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
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- Inability to understand, speak, or write in French
- Inability to understand the study's purpose or methodology
- Excluded from another study during the exclusion period
- Participants who have received over €6000 in annual indemnities
- For Bipolar Participants (without BPD) : Current moderate or severe depressive episode (BDI score > 18) or Current hypomanic/manic episode (YMRS < 12)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
France1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
CHU Montpellier
Montpellier, 34000
DUCASSE Déborah, 04 67 33 82 89, d-ducasse@chu-montpellier.fr
About this study
This study aims to explore a novel conceptualization of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) as a "Relationship Use Disorder." The research proposes that BPD shares key features with behavioral addictions, specifically addiction to interpersonal relationships. The study builds upon previous findings suggesting that individuals with BPD experience intense emotional dysregulation, including negative self-perception, shame, and a compulsive need for external validation. This addiction to relationships, much like substance use disorders, is thought to contribute significantly to the difficulties faced by these individuals, including interpersonal conflicts, self-destructive behaviors, and emotional instability.
The study seeks to demonstrate that the relational difficulties central to BPD meet the diagnostic criteria for addiction as defined by the DSM-5. It will also explore how these relational struggles are mediated by dysfunctional self-perception and whether they are linked to behaviors such as compulsive sexual behaviors (CSBD) or suicidal tendencies. Additionally, the research will investigate the relationship between addiction to relationships and neurobiological factors, including endorphin levels, in individuals with BPD compared to those with bipolar disorder and healthy controls. The hypothesis is that individuals with BPD will exhibit higher levels of relationship addiction, with this addiction being tied to their perception of self-worth and emotional experiences in relationships.
This innovative approach aims to refine the understanding of BPD, reduce stigma, and improve treatment strategies by providing scientific evidence supporting the conceptualization of BPD as a "Relationship Use Disorder."
- Conditions
- Borderline Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Bipolar Disorder (BD)
- Being tested
- Relationship-use questionnaire
- Keywords
- borderline personality disorder, relationship-use disorder
- Medical subject headings
- Borderline Personality Disorder, Bipolar Disorder
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Relationship-use questionnaireOther
Questionnaire adapted from the 'Substance Use Disorders' section of the DSM-5: Disorder related to the use of close relationships
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Patients with borderline personality | Experimental | Patients with borderline personality disorder without bipolar disorder Receives: Other: Relationship-use questionnaire |
| Patients with bipolar disorder | Experimental | patients with bipolar disorder without borderline personality disorder Receives: Other: Relationship-use questionnaire |
| Healthy controls | Experimental | Healthy controls (i.e. without psychiatric disorders), from the general population Receives: Other: Relationship-use questionnaire |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Relational Addiction
Using the experimental relationship-use questionnaire based on the DSM-5 Substance Use Disorder items among patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) without Bipolar Disorder (BD), those with BD without BPD, and healthy controls.
Measured: Measured at baseline
Secondary outcomes (14)
Function Acquisition Speed Test (FAST)
Administer the Function Acquisition Speed Test (FAST) to measure how quickly individuals learn associations between stimuli and responses, focusing on emotional biases related to self (e.g., feelings of unworthiness, ridicule) and others (e.g., dependency, validation). The aim is to assess the intensity of emotional biases in BPD patients compared to BD patients and healthy controls.
Measured: Measured at baseline
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for Perceived Alignment with BPD
After viewing an educational video explaining Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) as relational addiction, assess how participants perceive the alignment of their personal experiences with BPD traits, using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) ranging from 0 to 10.
Measured: Measured at baseline
Love Addiction Inventory (LAI)
Using the Love Addiction Inventory (LAI), a 24-item self-report scale, to measure symptoms of love addiction. Participants rate their responses on a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating greater levels of love addiction symptoms, among patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) without Bipolar Disorder (BD), those with BD without BPD.
Measured: Measured at baseline
Beta-Endorphin Levels
valuate the correlation between beta-endorphin levels and the dimension of relational addiction among patients with BPD, BD, and healthy controls
Measured: Measured at baseline
Dysfunctional Self-Perception and Related Indicators (SES)
Assessing dysfunctional self-perception and its associated indicators-including feelings of emptiness - among BPD group, BD group and HC group, using :
- Subjective Emptiness Scale (SES): An 8-item self-report scale measuring feelings of inner emptiness. Higher scores indicate greater perceived emptiness.
Measured: Measured at baseline
Dysfunctional Self-Perception and Related Indicators (RSES)
Assessing dysfunctional self-perception and its associated indicators-including self-esteem-among BPD group, BD group and HC group, using :
- Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES): A 10-item self-report scale assessing global self-worth. The total score ranges from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating higher self-esteem.
Measured: Measured at baseline
Dysfunctional Self-Perception and Related Indicators (ESS)
Assessing dysfunctional self-perception and its associated indicators-including shame,-among BPD group, BD group and HC group, using :
- Experience of Shame Scale (ESS): A 25-item self-report scale covering eight domains of shame experiences, including personal habits, interpersonal behaviors, and body image. Higher scores reflect greater shame experiences.
Measured: Measured at baseline
Dysfunctional Self-Perception and Related Indicators (VAS)
Assessing dysfunctional self-perception and its associated indicators-including shame,-among BPD group, BD group and HC group, using :
- Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for Psychological Pain: Participants mark a point on a 10 cm line that represents their current level of psychological pain. Higher values indicating greater psychological pain.
Measured: Measured at baseline
Painful Experiences Related to the Relational Object (MSR)
Assessing the impact of painful relational experiences, focusing on rejection sensitivity, among patients diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) without Bipolar Disorder (BD), those with BD without BPD, and healthy controls (HC), using :
- Rejection Sensitivity Scale (MSR): A 9-item self-report scale assessing the level of anxiety and likelihood of perceiving rejection in various interpersonal situations. Higher scores indicate greater sensitivity to rejection.
Measured: Measured at baseline
Painful Experiences Related to the Relational Object (ESUL)
Assessing the impact of painful relational experiences, focusing on loneliness, among patients diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) without Bipolar Disorder (BD), those with BD without BPD, and healthy controls (HC), using :
- University of Laval Loneliness Scale (ESUL): A 20-item self-report scale measuring perceived loneliness in adults. The scale assesses both emotional and social loneliness. Higher scores indicate greater loneliness.
Measured: Measured at baseline
Painful Experiences Related to the Relational Object (RSQ)
Assessing the impact of painful relational experiences, focusing on attachment styles, among patients diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) without Bipolar Disorder (BD), those with BD without BPD, and healthy controls (HC), using :
- Relationship Scale Questionnaire (RSQ): A 30-item self-report scale evaluating attachment styles and relational anxiety. Higher scores reflect more insecure attachment styles.
Measured: Measured at baseline
Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder
Assessing the severity of compulsive sexual behaviors (CSBD) among patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) without Bipolar Disorder (BD), those with BD without BPD, and healthy controls (HC), using :
- Compulsive Sexual Behavior Scale (CSBD-19): a 19-item self-report scale that assesses the severity of compulsive sexual behaviors, following the diagnostic guidelines of the ICD-11. The scale evaluates key dimensions of CSBD, including control, salience, relapse, dissatisfaction, and negative consequences. Participants rate the frequency and impact of their sexual behaviors and impulses on a 5-point Likert scale. Higher scores indicate more severe compulsive sexual behavior.
Measured: Measured at baseline
Non-Relational Addictive Propensity
Assessment of Non-Relational Addictive Behaviors in Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Bipolar Disorder (BD), and Healthy Controls (HC), using substance use disorder criteria.
Participants will be screened for a range of substances (e.g., alcohol, opioids, stimulants) and will be asked about the frequency, quantity, and impact of substance use in their life.
Measured: Measured at baseline
Suicidal Tendencies
Assessment of Suicidal Tendencies in Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Bipolar Disorder (BD), and Healthy Controls (HC), using :
- Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS): The C-SSRS is a clinician-administered assessment tool designed to measure the severity and frequency of suicidal and para-suicidal behaviors. The scale includes questions about lifetime suicidal ideation, recent suicidal ideation, and behaviors, including planning, attempts, and self-injurious actions.
Measured: Measured at baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Jan 2026
- Study start1 Jun 2026
- Primary completion1 Apr 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Aug 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Borderline Personality DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 194 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, Montpellier
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07337889
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- RECHMPL24_0194
- Acronym
- TLUR
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 11 Dec 2025
- Last updated
- 22 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Conceptualizing Borderline Personality Disorder as a Relationship Use Disorder
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07337889
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- TLUR / RECHMPL24_0194
- Conditions
- Borderline Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Bipolar Disorder (BD)
- Keywords
- borderline personality disorder, relationship-use disorder
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 194 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, MontpellierUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Apr 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Aug 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 13 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to explore a novel conceptualization of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) as a "Relationship Use Disorder." The research proposes that BPD shares key features with behavioral addictions, specifically addiction to interpersonal relationships. The study builds upon previous findings suggesting that individuals with BPD experience intense emotional dysregulation, including negative self-perception, shame, and a compulsive need for external validation. This addiction to relationships, much like substance use disorders, is thought to contribute significantly to the difficulties faced by these individuals, including interpersonal conflicts, self-destructive behaviors, and emotional instability.
The study seeks to demonstrate that the relational difficulties central to BPD meet the diagnostic criteria for addiction as defined by the DSM-5. It will also explore how these relational struggles are mediated by dysfunctional self-perception and whether they are linked to behaviors such as compulsive sexual behaviors (CSBD) or suicidal tendencies. Additionally, the research will investigate the relationship between addiction to relationships and neurobiological factors, including endorphin levels, in individuals with BPD compared to those with bipolar disorder and healthy controls. The hypothesis is that individuals with BPD will exhibit higher levels of relationship addiction, with this addiction being tied to their perception of self-worth and emotional experiences in relationships.
This innovative approach aims to refine the understanding of BPD, reduce stigma, and improve treatment strategies by providing scientific evidence supporting the conceptualization of BPD as a "Relationship Use Disorder."
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Patients with borderline personality | Experimental | Other: Relationship-use questionnairePatients with borderline personality disorder without bipolar disorder |
| Patients with bipolar disorder | Experimental | Other: Relationship-use questionnairepatients with bipolar disorder without borderline personality disorder |
| Healthy controls | Experimental | Other: Relationship-use questionnaireHealthy controls (i.e. without psychiatric disorders), from the general population |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 45 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- General : aged 18-45
- Specific :
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD)assessed by SCID, without bipolar disorder
- Bipolar disorder (assessed by SCID), without BPD (evaluated by SCID)
- Healthy controls with no psychiatric disorders (screened by SCID).
Key exclusion criteria (11 listed)
- Psychotic disorders (evaluated by SCID)
- lack of informed consent
- Not affiliated with social security
- Under judicial or administrative confinement or involuntary hospitalization
- Protected by law (e.g., under guardianship)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Relationship-use questionnaireQuestionnaire adapted from the 'Substance Use Disorders' section of the DSM-5: Disorder related to the use of close relationships | Other | Healthy controls, Patients with bipolar disorder, Patients with borderline personality |
Primary outcome
Relational Addiction
Time frame: Measured at baseline
Using the experimental relationship-use questionnaire based on the DSM-5 Substance Use Disorder items among patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) without Bipolar Disorder (BD), those with BD without BPD, and healthy controls.
14 secondary outcomes
Function Acquisition Speed Test (FAST)
Time frame: Measured at baseline
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for Perceived Alignment with BPD
Time frame: Measured at baseline
Love Addiction Inventory (LAI)
Time frame: Measured at baseline
Beta-Endorphin Levels
Time frame: Measured at baseline
Dysfunctional Self-Perception and Related Indicators (SES)
Time frame: Measured at baseline
Dysfunctional Self-Perception and Related Indicators (RSES)
Time frame: Measured at baseline
Dysfunctional Self-Perception and Related Indicators (ESS)
Time frame: Measured at baseline
Dysfunctional Self-Perception and Related Indicators (VAS)
Time frame: Measured at baseline
Painful Experiences Related to the Relational Object (MSR)
Time frame: Measured at baseline
Painful Experiences Related to the Relational Object (ESUL)
Time frame: Measured at baseline
Painful Experiences Related to the Relational Object (RSQ)
Time frame: Measured at baseline
Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder
Time frame: Measured at baseline
Non-Relational Addictive Propensity
Time frame: Measured at baseline
Suicidal Tendencies
Time frame: Measured at baseline
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 Jun 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Relationship-use questionnaire in people with Borderline Personality Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), run by University Hospital, Montpellier at 1 site in France.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 11 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in France. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Each site lists its own contact: choose the nearest one under Trial locations. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Relational Addiction (time frame: Measured at baseline). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 Jun 2026.