The purpose of this study was to compare the respective contributions of psychosocial stressors and neuropsychological deficits to the prevalence of borderline pathology in children. Method: For psychiatric day treatment, 86 school-age adolescents (75 boys and 11 females) were the subjects. 35 of the kids fulfilled the requirements for borderline pathology. Based on parent and child conversations, reports from schools and social service organizations, and information from a questionnaire filled out by members of the child's clinical team, data on psychosocial risk factors were compiled for each child. Computerized versions of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and the Continuous Performance Test were used as neuropsychological assessments. Results: The variation in borderline pathology was significantly and independently influenced by both executive function deficits and psychological stress. A model that included both groups of risk factors and explained 48% of the variance in borderline diagnoses was the result. Conclusions: To comprehend the etiology of borderline pathology in children, it is important to consider both environmental hazards and neurobiological susceptibility