Data in this sample did not support the underlying genesis of BPD proposed by the Biosocial Theory and a model that more parsimoniously explains the development of BPD is proposed.

Background A number of theories have been proposed to account for the development of borderline personality disorder (BPD). The biosocial model considers emotional dysregulation to be central to the disorder, caused in turn by an emotionally vulnerable child being raised in an invalidating environment. This aetiological model is potentially too broad, as many of these constructs may be equally important to other mental health conditions, making the model non‐specific to BPD. Method We sought to contrast the explanatory value of the constructs identified by the biosocial model of BPD to an alternate form of psychopathology (chronic worry), using a nonclinical sample (N = 271), via the completion of self‐report questionnaires. Results Childhood emotional vulnerability had a similar relationship to chronic worry as to borderline traits, with emotional dysregulation playing an important role in both disorders. Contrary to the biosocial model′s predictions, the interaction effects between the childhood antecedents were not found to play an important role in either psychopathology. Conclusion The lack of an interaction effect between invalidating parenting and emotional vulnerability suggests that this aspect of the biosocial model may not be a strong predictor of BPD. Key elements of the biosocial model may have utility as more generic predictors of psychopathology.

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Objectives. A widely used measure of emotion dysregulation, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), may insufficiently cover a number of potentially important aspects of emotional dysregulation. A new measure of emotional dysregulation, the Emotional Dysregulation Questionnaire (EDQ) was therefore developed based upon an eight-factor model of the construct.Design and Method. The DERS and the EDQ were administered to a community sample (N = 362; 183 female, 179 male), along with a number of measures of psychopathology associated with emotional dysregulation. The capacity of the EDQ and the DERS to account for the emotional dysregulation associated with these different types of psychopathology was then compared.Results. In several of the psychopathologies examined, the EDQ could account for more variation than the DERS, suggesting that it more comprehensively assessed the emotion regulation deficits associated with these issues. Conclusions.Results suggest the EDQ possesses several advantages relative to the DERS, allowing for a more comprehensive and accurate assessment of emotional dysregulation. Practitioner pointsEmotional dysregulation is a common component of many psychological disorders. The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale is one of the primary self-report measures used to asses these difficulties, however, concerns exist that it may not comprehensively assess the construct of emotional dysregulation. A new self-report measure of comparable length, the Emotional Dysregulation Questionnaire has been developed, with this new measure possessing several advantages relative to the DERS with regard to the assessment of emotional dysregulation. The use of this measure in clinical practice may more accurately identify the emotion regulation deficits present in clients.