Borderline personality disorder as asyndrome of poor quality of object relations

Joanna Cheek,Anthony Joyce,John Ogrodniczuk,David Kealy

doi:10.12740/app/128104

Abstract

Objective: Interpersonal dysfunction is a hallmark feature of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Representing lifelong relational patterns based in internal representations, quality of object relations (QOR) has been theorized as a core aspect of borderline personality pathology; yet empirical inquiry of this relationship has been limited. The present study investigated the association between QOR and BPD in the context of other salient correlates of BPD. Method: Participants were 137 outpatients obtaining care at an intensive treatment program for patients with personality dysfunction. BPD was assessed using two interview-based instruments. A separate interviewer-rated assessment of quality of object relations was administered by a different set of assessors. Participants also completed self-report measures of symptom distress, five-factor personality, and dysphoric affects. Results: Regarding BPD severity, QOR emerged as the only significant predictor with all variables in the model. Similarly, logistic regression found that QOR was associated with a significantly greater likelihood of having a diagnosis of BPD, after accounting for the effects of the other variables in the model. Conclusion: QOR is significantly and uniquely associated with BPD, suggesting that internalized representations of self and others play an important role underlying BPD pathology.

Highlights

The DSM describes borderline personality disorder (BPD) as an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that demonstrates dysfunction in multiple categories: emotion regulation, interpersonal functioning, identity, impulse control, and cognitions
Object relations refer to mental representations of self and others that emerge from early relationships[8, 9]
Preliminary analyses indicated no significant associations between BPD and age and gender

Summary

Introduction

The DSM describes borderline personality disorder (BPD) as an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that demonstrates dysfunction in multiple categories: emotion regulation, interpersonal functioning (e.g. anxious preoccupation with abandonment, extremes of idealization and abandonment), identity (e.g. poor sense of self), impulse control, and cognitions The working group for the DSM5 proposed significant changes to the personality disorder construct, shifting from a categorical to hybrid dimensional model In this Alternative Model for Personality Disorders, criterion. A identifies impairments in self (identity, selfdirection) and interpersonal (empathy, intimacy) functioning as core dimensions for personality disorders, with criterion B listing the presence of pathological personality traits (e.g. antagonism, disinhibition, detachment, negative affectivity, and psychoticism) [1]. Object relations refer to mental representations of self and others that emerge from early relationships[8, 9]. These psychological templates of interactions between the self and others are linked with particular affect states and influence a person’s future interpersonal interactions[10].

Results

Discussion

Conclusion