The moderating role of OXTR rs53576 genotype on the relationships between physical abuse (R2 = 0.066, t = 2.723, p = 0.007), sexual abuse (R2 = 0.053, t = 2.914, p = 0.004) and BPD was significant, while childhood maltreatment total score (R2 = 0.105, t = 1.575, p = 0.116), emotional abuse (R2 = 0.077, t = 1.931, p = 0.054), emotional neglect (R2 = 0.071, t = − 1.016, p = 0.310) and physical neglect (R2 = 0.076, t = 0.990, p = 0.323) all failed to interact with genotype to predict BPD scores. The gene discussed is OXTR; the disease is Borderline personality disorder.