Objective: To examine the relationship between trauma in childhood and personality disorders in adulthood.
Method: A review of the literature was conducted.
Results: The reported associations between trauma and personality pathology are illuminated by the following research findings: 1) personality is heritable; 2) only a minority of patients with severe personality disorders report childhood trauma; and 3) children are generally resilient, and traumatic experiences do not consistently lead to psychopathology.
Conclusions: The role of trauma in the personality disorders is best understood in the context of gene-environment interactions.