Physical activity in the management of borderline personality disorder: A scoping review

INTRODUCTION: Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) affects 1-2 % of the population and poses significant health challenges. Individuals with BPD face a reduced life expectancy of 14-27 years, primarily due to suicide and cardiovascular-related issues. This scoping review aimed to provide an overview of the existing literature on physical activity (PA) in BPD management, focusing on research characteristics and exploring underlying rationales.

METHODS: The PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, PEDro and Cochrane databases were searched for both unpublished and published studies from 1980 to February 2025. The search followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and the Population, Concept, and Context framework.

RESULTS: Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria, including seven RCTs (four ongoing), five non-randomized controlled trials, two non-controlled intervention studies, one single-case experimental study, and six case studies. The studies included 229 participants, primarily female, and covered six PA modalities: structured exercise, yoga, dance movement therapy, outdoor PA's, sports, and body awareness and psychomotor therapies. Analysis identified seven categories of rationales for incorporating PA: improving patient care, fostering emotional regulation, promoting mental health, regulating maladaptive behaviors, enhancing social skills, protecting physical health, and reclaiming embodiment, with fostering emotional regulation as the most prominent.

CONCLUSION: This review highlights the promising but fragmented research on PA interventions for BPD, with a primary emphasis on psychological aspects. Notable gaps include limited attention to somatic comorbidities and the lack of consistent outcome measures. Future research should prioritize the development of multidisciplinary interventions to address both psychological and physical factors.