Complex personality disorders (PDs) have been hypothesized to be characterized by alternating states of thinking, feeling, and behavior, the so-called schema modes. This study was twofold. It first attempted to assess and compare the presence of the hypothesized schema modes in borderlines, antisocials, and nonpatient controls and second to show a direct comparison of childhood abuse history in the three groups. Gender was equally divided within the groups so that the probability to detect disorder-specific results is increased. Study participants consisted of 16 patients with borderline personality disorders (BPD), 16 antisocial personality disorder (APD) patients, and 16 nonpatients. Gender was evenly distributed within the groups by planned stratification with each group consisting of eight men and eight women. Participants completed a Schema Mode Questionnaire assessing cognitions, feelings, and behaviors characteristic of six schema modes. BPD, as well as APD were characterized by four maladaptive modes: detached protector, punitive parent, abandoned/abused child, and angry child. APD displayed characteristics of the bully/attack mode, but this presence did not significantly differ from BPD. The healthy adult mode was of low presence in BPD and of high presence in APD and the nonpatients. Frequency and severity of the three kinds of abuse were equally high in both BPD and APD. In conclusion, BPD and APD indicated a substantial overlap concerning frequency and severity of childhood emotional, physical and sexual abuse and in the presence of the schema modes. References