The Role of Borderline Personality Features, Social Support, and Perceived Stress on Prescribed and Non-Prescribed Opioid Use during Pregnancy

The current project examined the role of prescribed and non-prescribed opioid use in a sample of pregnant mothers (N = 99) who were patients in a high-risk pregnancy clinic. Borderline personality disorder features were assessed as whether these personality features may be associated with opioid misuse during pregnancy. Hepatitis-C virus, lack of social support, and perceived stress was also assessed in relation to opioid use and borderline personality features. Participants were representative of the geographic area (78.7% White) and in their 2nd and 3rd trimester (Gestation M = 26.2). Opioid use was measured through self-report questionnaires as well as urine and blood analysis from medical records. Linear and hierarchical regressions were employed to test predictor and outcome variables. Individuals who had high borderline features were more likely to misuse opioids, particularly the features of negative relationships and selfharm. Individuals with HCV were more likely to misuse opioids but were not more likely to have a clinical cut-off score of borderline features. The borderline features of negative relationships was positively associated with HCV diagnosis. Lack of social support did not moderate the relation between total borderline features and both self-reported and urine analysis of opioid use. Perceived stress moderated the relation between total borderline features and opioid use severity as indicated in the urine samples, such that when levels of perceived stress were medium to high, borderline features did not affect opioid use severity. Limitations along with future directions and clinical interventions are discussed.