Shared genetics explain the link between borderline personality and cannabis use, but not alcohol
In over 5,600 twins, the association between borderline personality traits and cannabis use was explained by shared genetic factors, while the link with heavy alcohol use was driven by environmental factors.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Researchers studied 5,638 Dutch and Belgian twins aged 21-50 from 3,567 families. Significant associations were found between borderline personality traits (BPT) and high alcohol consumption (r=0.192), regular smoking (r=0.299), and ever using cannabis (r=0.254).
Bivariate genetic analyses revealed different etiologies for each association. The correlations between BPT and both regular smoking and cannabis use were explained by common genetic factors, meaning the same genes that increase borderline traits also increase the likelihood of using these substances.
For heavy alcohol consumption, the story was different: the association with BPT was explained by unique environmental factors rather than shared genetics. This meant that the alcohol-BPT connection arose from life experiences that influence both traits, not from an underlying genetic vulnerability.
Key Numbers
5,638 twins, 3,567 families. BPT-alcohol correlation: r=0.192 (environmental). BPT-smoking: r=0.299 (genetic). BPT-cannabis: r=0.254 (genetic).
How They Did This
Twin study with 5,638 participants from 3,567 families. Bivariate genetic modeling decomposed the associations between borderline personality traits and substance use into genetic versus environmental components.
Why This Research Matters
Understanding whether substance use in borderline personality is genetically driven or environmentally driven changes the treatment approach. Genetic overlap suggests shared neurobiology; environmental overlap suggests addressing life circumstances and coping strategies.
The Bigger Picture
This study challenged the assumption that all substance use in borderline personality has the same cause. The finding that cannabis and smoking share genetic roots with BPT while alcohol does not suggests different therapeutic targets for different substance patterns.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Twin studies assume equal environments for identical and fraternal twins, which may not perfectly hold. Self-reported substance use and personality traits. "Ever use of cannabis" is a crude measure that does not capture frequency or problems. Dutch/Belgian population may not generalize.
Questions This Raises
- ?Which specific genes are shared between BPT and cannabis use?
- ?Would identifying these shared genes improve treatment?
- ?Does the genetic overlap explain why borderline patients find cannabis subjectively helpful?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Cannabis-BPT link: genetic. Alcohol-BPT link: environmental.
- Evidence Grade:
- Large twin study with robust genetic modeling. Strong design for decomposing genetic vs environmental contributions, though limited by self-report measures.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2012. Gene-trait association studies have become more sophisticated with genome-wide approaches.
- Original Title:
- Borderline personality traits and substance use: genetic factors underlie the association with smoking and ever use of cannabis, but not with high alcohol consumption.
- Published In:
- Journal of personality disorders, 26(6), 867-79 (2012)
- Authors:
- Distel, Marijn A(2), Trull, Tim J, de Moor, Marleen M H, Vink, Jacqueline M, Geels, Lot M, van Beek, Jenny H D A, Bartels, Meike, Willemsen, Gonneke, Thiery, Evert, Derom, Catherine A, Neale, Michael C, Boomsma, Dorret I
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00557
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Why do people with borderline traits use more cannabis?
This study found the connection is largely genetic: the same genes that contribute to borderline personality traits also increase the likelihood of cannabis use. This suggests a shared neurobiological vulnerability rather than cannabis use being simply a coping mechanism.
Is the alcohol connection different?
Yes. Unlike cannabis, the link between borderline traits and heavy alcohol use was driven by environmental factors, not genetics. This means life experiences that promote both traits (like trauma, social environment, or stress) explain the alcohol connection.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00557APA
Distel, Marijn A; Trull, Tim J; de Moor, Marleen M H; Vink, Jacqueline M; Geels, Lot M; van Beek, Jenny H D A; Bartels, Meike; Willemsen, Gonneke; Thiery, Evert; Derom, Catherine A; Neale, Michael C; Boomsma, Dorret I. (2012). Borderline personality traits and substance use: genetic factors underlie the association with smoking and ever use of cannabis, but not with high alcohol consumption.. Journal of personality disorders, 26(6), 867-79. https://doi.org/10.1521/pedi.2012.26.6.867
MLA
Distel, Marijn A, et al. "Borderline personality traits and substance use: genetic factors underlie the association with smoking and ever use of cannabis, but not with high alcohol consumption.." Journal of personality disorders, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1521/pedi.2012.26.6.867
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Borderline personality traits and substance use: genetic fac..." RTHC-00557. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/distel-2012-borderline-personality-traits-and
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.