Borderline Personality Traits Research Articles

Childhood maltreatment, peer victimization, borderline personality feature, suicidal risk in adolescents: Direct and indirect associations among developmental trajectories.

Childhood maltreatment, peer victimization, and borderline personality traits have all been shown to be linked to suicidal risk. However, there remains a need to illuminate the possible direct and indirect pathways among them from a developmental perspective that could serve as intervention targets. This study thus aimed to investigate the direct and indirect relationships among developmental trajectories of childhood maltreatment, peer victimization, borderline personality feature, and suicidal risk in adolescents. A total of 1648 Chinese adolescents (48.12% boys; Mage = 13.69; SD = 0.82) in junior middle schools completed self-report measures on three-time points across 1 year. Latent growth curve modeling was used to evaluate the direct and indirect relationships among the developmental trajectories of the aforementioned study variables. The developmental trajectories of childhood maltreatment, peer victimization, and borderline personality feature were positively and directly related to the developmental trajectory of suicidal risk; and the developmental trajectories of childhood maltreatment, peer victimization were indirectly related to the developmental trajectory of suicidal risk through the mediating effect of the developmental trajectory of borderline personality feature. The findings elucidated the direct and indirect longitudinal relationships among childhood maltreatment, peer victimization, borderline personality feature, and suicidal risk, highlighting that interventions should target childhood maltreatment, peer victimization, and borderline personality feature to decrease suicidal risk in adolescents with a developmental perspective.

INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BORDERLINE PERSONALITY TRAITS, SHYNESS AND ANGER

Borderline individuals struggle with self-control and exhibit volatility in both their thinking and actions. The main aim of the research is to investigate the relationship between borderline personality traits, shyness and anger. In the study, a relational screening approach was employed. Four hundred ten adults, 207 males (50.5%) and 203 females (49.5%) aged 18-45 years, took part in the study using a simple random sampling method. The study's data collection tools are the Shyness Scale, Borderline Personality Scale-BPQ, Trait Anger (SL- Anger) Scale, and Personal Information Form. The SPSS 25 program was used to analyze the data that were gathered for this study. The Independent T-Test and ANOVA Test were used to compare continuous variables that provide normal distribution as a result of the test. The Pearson Correlation coefficient was used to analyze the relationship between continuous variables. Results indicate that as the level of borderline personality traits increased, the levels of constant anger, internalized anger, externalized anger, and shyness increased; the level of anger control decreased. In addition, intense anger, which is a borderline personality trait, predicts constant anger, externalized anger, and anger control. Emptiness also predicts internalized anger and shyness.

The elephant in the room: Is betrayal trauma associated with borderline personality disorder?

Background: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) has been found to be closely linked to childhood trauma, particularly betrayal trauma. Aim: In our study, we aimed to investigate the association between betrayal trauma and anxiety among young adults. Methods: We assessed a total of 305 young adults using a Google form utilizing three assessment tools: the 10-item McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder (MSI-BPD), the 12-item Brief Betrayal Trauma Survey (BBTS), and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) to evaluate borderline personality traits, betrayal trauma experiences, and anxiety level. Results: Our findings revealed that 22% [95% confidence interval (CI) 17.7 to 26.9] of the participants screened positive for BPD on MSI-BPD assessment; self-reported anxiety as reported by GAD-7 was observed in 27.9% (95% CI 23.1 to 33.2), while 82% (95% CI 77.3 to 85.9) reported experiencing betrayal trauma. A significantly higher proportion of individuals with BPD (97%) reported experiencing betrayal trauma compared to those without the disorder. High betrayal trauma [odds ratio (OR) 8.14, 95% CI 3.06 to 21.67] and medium betrayal trauma (OR 7.06, 95% CI 2.64 to 18.92) were significantly associated with the diagnosis of BPD. The associations held true across genders, although they were stronger in females. Conclusions: Our study highlights the strong relationship between betrayal trauma and BPD, with significant implications for the development of anxiety in young adults. These findings underscore the importance of recognizing and addressing childhood trauma, particularly betrayal trauma, in individuals at risk for BPD.

Generalizable Links Between Borderline Personality Traits and Functional Connectivity

BackgroundSymptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD) often manifest during adolescence, but the underlying relationship between these debilitating symptoms and the development of functional brain networks is not well understood. Here, we aimed to investigate how multivariate patterns of functional connectivity are associated with borderline personality traits in large samples of young adults and adolescents. MethodsWe used functional magnetic resonance imaging data from young adults and adolescents from the HCP-YA (Human Connectome Project Young Adult) (n = 870, ages 22–37 years, 457 female) and the HCP-D (Human Connectome Project Development) (n = 223, ages 16–21 years, 121 female). A previously validated BPD proxy score was derived from the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. A ridge regression model with cross-validation and nested hyperparameter tuning was trained and tested in HCP-YA to predict BPD scores in unseen data from regional functional connectivity. The trained model was further tested on data from HCP-D without further tuning. Finally, we tested how the connectivity patterns associated with BPD aligned with age-related changes in connectivity. ResultsMultivariate functional connectivity patterns significantly predicted out-of-sample BPD scores in unseen data in young adults (HCP-YA ppermuted = .001) and older adolescents (HCP-D ppermuted = .001). Regional predictive capacity was heterogeneous; the most predictive regions were found in functional systems relevant for emotion regulation and executive function, including the ventral attention network. Finally, regional functional connectivity patterns that predicted BPD scores aligned with those associated with development in youth. ConclusionsIndividual differences in functional connectivity in developmentally sensitive regions are associated with borderline personality traits.

Dream themes and rejection sensitivity of individuals with and without borderline personality disorder: a comparative study

Objectives: This study aims to determine how the dream themes of borderline personality disorder patients differ from those of without borderline personality disorder diagnosis and the mediating role of rejection sensitivity in this differentiation process. Methods: The convenience sampling method was used in the study, and the participants were 79 female borderline patients diagnosed with semi-structured interviews with criteria of DSM-5 and 79 female individuals who had not received a psychological diagnosis before and at the study interviews. Sociodemographic Information Form, Dream Themes Scale, Borderline Personality Questionnaire, and Rejection Sensitivity Scale were used in the study. Linear Regression Analysis, Hierarchical Regression Analysis, and Independent Groups T-Test were used during the investigations. Results: Borderline personality disorder patients scored higher in all sub-dimensions of the dream themes scale and rejection sensitivity scale than the control group. Borderline personality traits predicted rejection sensitivity. Borderline personality traits and rejection sensitivity together predicted dream themes. Borderline personality predicts anxiety dreams, fear dreams, and experience dreams, and rejection sensitivity mediates these predictive relationships. Conclusions: The dreams of borderline personality disorder patients have negative content covered by the impact of experiences sub-dimension on dream themes, as they contain reflections of negative content in beliefs, thoughts and emotions related to their daily lives. Rejection sensitivity plays a mediator role in borderline patient’s dreams. The study results show that it would be beneficial not to ignore the content of dreams in patients with borderline personality disorder, considering the relationship of negative dreams with daily functioning, dissociative symptoms, self-harming behaviors, and suicide attempts. Results also indicate that it might be beneficial to target rejection sensitivity to reduce aggravating dream contents.

Effectiveness of Schema Therapy on Self-Differentiation and Rejection Sensitivity in Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder

Objective: The current research aimed to investigate the effectiveness of schema therapy on self-differentiation and rejection sensitivity among patients with borderline personality disorder in Shiraz in 2022. Methods and Materials: The research method was a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test, post-test, control group, and follow-up. The statistical population consisted of all individuals with borderline personality disorder who visited counseling centers in Shiraz, from which 50 individuals were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to either the experimental group (25 individuals) or the control group (25 individuals). The experimental group underwent 12 sixty-minute sessions of schema therapy, while the control group was placed on a waiting list. The instruments used in this study included the Borderline Personality Questionnaire (Claridge & Brookes, 1984), Self-Differentiation (Skowron & Friedlander, 1998), and Rejection Sensitivity (Downey & Feldman, 1996). Data analysis was performed in two parts: descriptive and inferential (repeated measures ANOVA). Findings: The results indicated that schema therapy training has an impact on self-differentiation and its components (emotional reactivity, I position, emotional cutoff, and fusion with others) in individuals with borderline personality disorder. Furthermore, the results showed that schema therapy training affects rejection sensitivity in individuals with borderline personality disorder. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that schema therapy is an effective treatment for improving self-differentiation and rejection sensitivity in individuals with borderline personality traits. It is recommended that this therapy be used for individuals with borderline personality traits in clinical settings.

A short version of the reflective functioning questionnaire: Validation in a greek sample.

This study aims to validate the Greek version of the 54-item Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ), a measure designed to assess an individual's capacity for understanding themselves and others based on internal mental states. This capacity, also known as Reflective Functioning (RF) or mentalizing, is believed to play a significant role in both typical and atypical development. The validation process examined the factor structure of the RFQ and its relationship with a variety of psychosocial and clinical constructs that have theoretical and empirical links to RF. Additionally, this research investigated the factor structure's invariance across gender and age groups to determine the robustness of the instrument. A unique contribution of this work lies in examining the application of the RFQ to attachment classifications through the use of cluster analysis. The sample consisted of 875 Greek adults from the general community with a mean age of 28.5 and a median age of 22. Participants completed the Greek RFQ along with a series of self-report questionnaires assessing psychosocial constructs, including attachment, epistemic trust, emotion regulation, and psychological mindedness, as well as clinical variables such as anxiety, depression, and borderline personality traits. Our findings suggest that a shorter, 31-item version of the questionnaire provides a robust three-factor structure across a non-clinical Greek adult population. The three identified subscales are (a) excessive certainty, (b) interest/curiosity, and (c) uncertainty/confusion, all demonstrating satisfactory reliability and construct validity. The uncertainty subscale was found to be associated with insecure attachment styles, epistemic mistrust and credulity, emotional suppression, and low psychological mindedness. In contrast, the certainty and curiosity subscales were linked to secure attachment, epistemic trust, emotion reappraisal, and psychological mindedness. Uncertainty was further shown to differ significantly across probable clinical and non-clinical groups, as distinguished by cut-off scores for anxiety, depression, and borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, the certainty and interest/curiosity subscales only varied between the two BPD groups. Our results provide the first evidence supporting the use of a 31-item version of the RFQ with three validated subscales to reliably assess reflective functioning in the Greek population, demonstrating stronger psychometric properties compared to other RFQ versions reported in previous studies. Findings suggest that impaired mentalizing capacity, as measured by the RFQ, is linked to insecure attachment, epistemic mistrust and credulity, poor emotion regulation, and low psychological mindedness, and potentially plays a role in adult mental health symptoms.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in complex posttraumatic stress disorder: A case report

Abstract Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (cPTSD) represents a unique clinical phenomenon. It is marked by traditional PTSD symptoms coupled with emotional instability, unfavorable self-perception, and challenges in interpersonal relationships. While the diagnostic recognition of cPTSD remains debated, emerging evidence supports its unique profile and clinical significance. This study presents an instance involving a 30-year-old woman who has been clinically determined to have severe cPTSD, comorbid borderline personality traits, major depressive disorder, and fibromyalgia. The patient underwent 25 bilateral sessions of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting prefrontal cortices. Comprehensive assessments using standardized scales were conducted pre- and post-rTMS treatment. Results revealed significant reductions in cPTSD symptoms (PTSD Checklist-5 scores decreased from 55 to 21) and reduced borderline personality symptomatology (the Zanarini Rating Scale for borderline personality disorder scores decreased from 9 to 4), alongside improvements in other areas. These findings suggest the potential utility of rTMS as an adjunctive intervention for cPTSD. Aligned with previous PTSD research, the study highlights the capacity of rTMS to mitigate cPTSD symptoms, comorbidities, and subjective distress. Nevertheless, further exploration with larger samples and extended follow-up is needed to substantiate and generalize these findings. This preliminary evidence underscores rTMS’s promise as a prospective therapeutic avenue for complex PTSD, offering hope for improved treatment strategies.

Borderline Kişilik Özellikleri, Aşk Mitleri ve Aşk Biçimleri

Individuals who show borderline personality traits but have not yet experienced these traits at the level of personality disorder patients might still have more destructive relationships compared to others in relation to their attitudes towards love (“passionate love (eros),” “altruistic love (agape)”, “possessive love (mania)”, “game playing love (ludus),” “friendly love (storge)”, “pragmatic love (pragma)”). It is predicted that the destructive relationships that individuals with borderline personality traits establish in line with their attitudes towards love may be related to some love myths (for example, "people who are in love can hurt the ones they love," "love forgives everything"). The purpose of this study was to determine whether romantic love myths play a mediating role in the attitudes toward love held by people who exhibit a high degree of borderline personality traits (BPT). Therefore, 492 participants, 220 males (44.7%) and 272 females (55.3%) aged 18-45 years, living in Istanbul and voluntarily participated in the research, were given the Borderline Personality Scale, Romantic Love Myths Scale, Attitudes Towards Love Scale and a form with personal information created by researchers was submitted. The obtained data were analyzed by applying Pearson Correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis. As a result of the findings, it was seen that the relationship between BPT and attitudes towards love was mediated by romantic love myths. The results of the study are important in showing that a change can be achieved in romantic relationship styles by targeting unrealistic beliefs in psychotherapy processes in the field of romantic relationships, which is one of the areas where individuals with borderline personality traits have difficulty.

Polish adaptation of self-report instruments for studying borderline personality traits - FFBI and FFBI-SF.

The article presents the results of research on the Polish adaptation of the self-report questionnaires FFBI (Five Factor Borderline Inventory) and FFBI-SF (Five Factor Borderline Inventory - Short Form), which were developed to measure borderline personality traits. The study, which consisted of two sessions, included a non-clinical sample of N = 527 adults (session 1: N = 527; Mage = 32.74 years; SDage = 10.12 years; 44% male; session 2: N = 315; Mage = 33.56 years; SDage = 10.71 years; 48.6% male). For convergent and divergent validity, Borderline Personality Disorder Checklist (BPD Checklist), Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder (SI-Bord), Borderline Personality Inventory (BPI) and Personality Inventory for ICD-11 (PiCD) were used. The results showed the Polish adaptations of the FFBI and FFBI-SF to be reliable and valid. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for FFBI/FFBI-SF scales scores ranged from 0.80/0.67 to 0.94/0.91 (Mα = 0.89/0.84). The twelve-factor structure of FFBI/FFBI-SF items was conformed. All FFBI/FFBI-SF traits are related to borderline facets measured by BPD Checklist, SI-Bord, BPI and pathological personality traits measured by PiCD in an expected way. Obtained data demonstrate satisfactory internal consistency, factorial validity, and convergent-discriminant validity of the Polish adaptations of FFBI and FFBI-SF in a non-clinical sample.

Examination of Acceptability, Feasibility, and Iatrogenic Effects of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) of Suicidal Ideation

Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) can be used to examine the dynamics of suicidal ideation in daily life. While the general acceptability and feasibility of EMA in suicide research has been established, further examination of potential iatrogenic effects (i.e., negative reactivity) and identifying those more likely to react negatively is needed. Participants ( N = 82) with current suicidal ideation completed 21 days of EMA (4×/day) and filled in M = 78% ( Med = 84%) of the EMA. No positive or negative affect reactivity was observed in EMA ratings over the study period. Retrospectively, most participants rated their experience as positive (69%); 22% indicated mood worsening, and 18% suicidal ideation reactivity. Those with more borderline personality traits, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and higher depressive, anxiety, and suicidal ideation symptoms, were more likely to report iatrogenic effects. In conclusion, while high compliance rates and lack of affect reactivity during EMA indicate that EMA is well tolerated in suicide research, a minority of participants may report subjective mood effects in retrospect.

Exploratory study of the prevalence of food addiction and its relationship with executive functioning, depression, and reinforcement sensitivity in a sample of Mexican adults.

The study of food addiction (FA) has become relevant due to its high prevalence, the negative impact on quality of life, and its association with neuropsychological and psychiatric symptoms. Several studies have provided scientific support for these associations, however, the results are contradictory. Additionally, studies have unsuccessfully elucidated the true nature of the failures in executive functioning in people with FA symptomatology, particularly when it comes to executive deficits. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to establish whether the presence of executive dysfunction, depressive symptoms and binge eating problems, as well as high reward sensitivity entails a greater severity in FA traits and high body mass index (BMI) in a sample of Mexican adults. The sample consisted of Mexican men and women between 21-59 years (n = 36); who completed self-report questionnaires and performance tests to measure the study variables. Additionally, BMI was estimated with self-reported height and weight. Our results showed that a high number of FA symptoms were associated with higher executive dysfunction scores, greater reward sensitivity, and more severe depressive and binge eating problems. Furthermore, factors that are more strongly associated with higher scores of FA include severe executive deficits, greater activation of the punishment avoidance system, and persistence in the search for reward when the depressive symptoms increased. The factors that best explained changes in the estimated BMI of women were a decreased crystallized intellectual capacity and the inability to control food intake as the number of FA symptoms increased. In summary, the cognitive functioning profile characterized by general failure of the executive functioning, as well as a greater activation of the Punishment Avoidance System and persistence in the search for reward, were associated with greater severity of FA symptoms, especially when the depressive symptomatology was severe. In parallel, the psychopathology in participants associated with FA confirms the contribution of anxious and depressive symptomatology and borderline personality traits which could facilitate the expression of clinically relevant FA symptoms in women. Finally, we found that decreased crystallized intellectual capacity and inability to control food intake were linked to higher BMI when the number of FA symptoms increased.

Çocukluk Çağı Travmaları ile Romantik İlişkide İstismara Maruziyet Arasındaki İlişkide Borderline Kişilik Özellikleri ve Ayrılık Anksiyetesinin Aracı Rolü

The study aims to examine the mediating role of borderline personality pattern and separation anxiety in adults in the relationship between childhood traumas and exposure to abuse in romantic relationships, to emphasize some factors that may cause violence in relationships, and to support initiatives to prevent exposure to partner violence. For the research, 400 participants aged 18-55 residing in Istanbul were determined by a simple random sampling method. After that, a Socio-demographic Information Form, Childhood Traumas Questionnaire (CTQ-33), Romantic Relationship Assessment Inventory (RRAI), Borderline Personality Questionnaire (BPQ), and Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire (ASAQ) were given to them. The data obtained from the study were evaluated with the SPSS-25 statistical analysis program. Relationships between scales were evaluated with Pearson Correlation analysis, and mediating roles were evaluated with PROCESS 3.5 Macro. All analyses were based on a 95% confidence interval. When the research findings were examined, A positive correlation was found between the Childhood Traumas Questionnaire and all its subscales, the Borderline Personality Questionnaire and all its subscales, and the Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire and the Romantic Relationship Assessment Scale. Research results show that childhood traumas predict exposure to abuse in romantic relationships and that borderline personality traits and adult separation anxiety play a partial mediating role in this relationship. It has also been determined that adult separation anxiety predicts borderline personality traits. As a result of the study, it is shown that in the case of abuse and neglect experiences in childhood, whether individuals are exposed to abuse in romantic relationships or not is related to borderline personality traits and low tolerance for separation. Study results reveal that separation anxiety significantly predicts borderline personality traits (34%), indicating that separation anxiety can be targeted as a key point in the repetitive abuse pattern. Another result of the study is that the increase in separation anxiety in borderline personality traits is associated with low economic levels. The current result reveals the importance of economic independence in exploitation patterns.

Effectiveness of internet-delivered dialectical behavior therapy skills training on executive functions among college students with borderline personality traits: a non-randomized controlled trial.

Given the enormous influence of emotions on cognitive processes, individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) suffer from marked deficits in higher-order thinking abilities. Considering the prevalence of BPD among college students, this study aimed to investigate the changes in perceived executive functioning among college students with traits/presence of BPD undergoing internet-delivered dialectical behavior therapy skills training (DBT-ST) that included the mindfulness and emotion regulation modules. An internet-delivered version of DBT-ST was opted for, as technological advancements in the present era promote the use of online platforms for psychotherapy. This non-randomized controlled trial consisted of 36 college students with traits/presence of BPD. The intervention group attended 13 sessions of DBT-ST, and the control group attended 13 sessions of behavioral activation. Perceived executive functioning was assessed using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions for Adults. A 2-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to evaluate the treatment impact on the outcome variable. Results showed that the DBT-ST group had larger improvements in their abilities to initiate, plan, and organize current and future-oriented task demands and to organize their everyday environment, compared to the control group. Both, the DBT-ST group and the control group demonstrated improvements in emotional control, working memory, and their abilities to shift and task monitor. Findings suggest that the internet-delivered version of DBT-ST, consisting of the mindfulness and emotion regulation modules, can foster notable improvements in executive functions among college students with traits/presence of BPD. Improved executive functioning is one of the several multifaceted outcomes of dialectical behavior therapy.

A Comparative Study of Women With Substance Use Disorder With and Without Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Complex Interaction Between Childhood Trauma, Empathy, Personality Traits, and Substance Use Severity.

Substance use disorders (SUDs) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) significantly coexist; thus, identifying potential related factors of both illnesses is important for advancing the prevention strategies. The goals of this study were to compare women with SUD with and without PTSD in terms of potentially related variables and to investigate if those factors are associated with SUD severity. Ninety-five participants (women) with SUD who had been admitted to the outpatient treatment clinic in Turkey were assessed with borderline personality questionnaire, childhood trauma questionnaire, addiction profile index, Levenson self-report psychopathy questionnaire, and basic empathy scale. Participants with PTSD had significantly higher severity of addiction, childhood trauma, borderline personality traits, secondary psychopathy scores, and affective empathy scores than participants without PTSD (P = .013, P = .012, P = .008, P = .031, P = .040). Our study suggested that comorbid PTSD and SUD resulted in more complicated presentation. It seems to be crucial for practitioners to screen PTSD symptoms in women with severe SUD and complicated clinical presentations.

Construction and Statistical Validation of a Path Model of the Factors Influencing Non-suicidal Self Injury (NSSI) among Female Adolescents

Introduction: Despite having innumerable literatures, there has been dearth of comprehensive model of the manifestation of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Aim and Objectives: The current study aims to construct a statistically validated model to explore the theoretical connections and the pathway to NSSI among female adolescents. Material and Method: A model was proposed based on the constructs empirically associated with NSSI. The research aims to explore the direct effects of external shame, hated self, and self-compassion on NSSI, and whether this relationship is mediated by borderline personality traits and menstrual phase. A total of 168 female adolescents completed the survey, including informed assent from the adolescents. The Other as Shamer Scale-2, the Forms of Self-Criticism/Self-Reassuring Scale, Self-Compassion Scale, the Risk-Taking and Self-Harm Inventory for Adolescents, and Borderline Personality Features Scale for Children were administered to the participants. Analysis of data involved descriptive statistics and path analysis. Result: The pathway shows hated self, disturbed intrapersonal relationship, and the inability to direct compassion for self may increase NSSI. Borderline personality traits and premenstrual dysphoria form indirect but contributory factors to strengthen the association between internal traits and NSSI. Conclusion: Thus it may be concluded from the present finding that external shame has significant negative effect on self-compassion and external shame has a significant positive effect on hated self. Also, self-compassion has a significant negative effect, and hated self as well external shame have significant positive effects on borderline traits. Thus, exploring this path would help to plan a suitable preventive action.

Childhood emotional abuse and alcohol use disorders in a national Nepali women sample: The mediating role of borderline personality traits.

While many studies have found an association between childhood emotional abuse and alcohol use disorders (AUD) during adulthood, underlying psychological mechanisms linking the two remain inadequately understood. Drawing on the developmental psychopathology perspective, this study examined the relationship between childhood emotional abuse and AUD during adulthood with a national sample of women in Nepal (N = 1,100, M age = 37.73), focusing on the mediating role of borderline personality traits. Mediation analyses were performed using the Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) method and bootstrapping confidence intervals. Results indicated that Nepali women's borderline personality traits significantly mediated the relationship between childhood emotional abuse and AUD. Hence, emotional abuse in childhood increases the risk for AUD during adulthood for Nepali women by increasing the risk of borderline personality traits. Findings underscore the necessity of continued emphasis on developing and implementing early interventions for childhood emotional abuse and therapeutic interventions for borderline personality traits in reducing AUD among vulnerable women in Nepal.

Shame-coping clusters: comparisons regarding attachment insecurities, mentalizing deficits, and personality pathology, controlling for general emotion dysregulation

BackgroundGeneral Emotion Dysregulation (GED) is increasingly implicated as an underlying factor in personality pathology; however, the regulation of specific emotions, such as shame, has been relatively overlooked in the literature. We aimed to identify distinct clusters of shame-coping/regulation and compare them regarding attachment insecurities, mentalizing deficits, and personality pathology, controlling for GED.MethodsA convenience sample of 600 participants (351 females and 249 males) from the general population with ages ranging from 18 to 65 (M = 33.78, SD = 12.80) completed a battery of self-report instruments, measuring shame-coping styles, GED, attachment insecurities, mentalizing deficits, criteria A and B of the alternative model for personality disorders, and borderline personality traits. A two-stage clustering method was employed, with shame-coping styles as the clustering variables. The identified clusters were then compared for their effects on dependent variables using multivariate and univariate analyses. These comparisons were also performed after controlling for GED.ResultsMultiple determination methods suggested a two-cluster solution: maladaptive and adaptive shame-coping. Attack-self, withdrawal, and attack-other styles were the main discriminators. Compared with the adaptive cluster, the maladaptive cluster was characterized by higher use of maladaptive and lower use of adaptive shame-coping styles. Multivariate analyses demonstrated significant differences for all the between-cluster comparisons, with and without GED as the covariate (p < .001).ConclusionsThe current study provides evidence for the presence of homogenous clusters of shame-coping in community-based adults. Between-cluster contrasts after controlling for GED suggest that addressing shame-coping could have incremental utility over and above GED.

Antipsychotic effects on anthropometric outcomes in anorexia nervosa: a retrospective chart review of hospitalized children and adolescents

BackgroundOff-label antipsychotic use is not uncommon in youth with anorexia nervosa (AN), aiming to enhance suboptimal weight restoration, yet its efficacy remains debated, especially in youth.MethodsRetrospective chart review of consecutively admitted inpatients (ages 8–18 years) with restricting/binge-purge AN, comparing youth with versus without antipsychotic treatment regarding baseline factors, treatment, and anthropometric outcome characteristics including all patients and matched subgroups. Matched subsamples were also compared regarding faster versus slower weight change (median split). Furthermore, within-subject analyses compared weight gain trajectories before versus after antipsychotic use in antipsychotic-treated youth. These results were then compared in a pre-/post design with the matched control group without antipsychotic treatment, using the mean duration until antipsychotic use in the antipsychotic-treated group as the dividing timeline, controlling for a potential order effect, in that later rather than earlier antipsychotic treatment for AN may be more successful.ResultsOf 294 youth with AN (median age = 15.2 (interquartile range = 14.0, 16.6) years, females = 96.6%, restricting subtype = 81.0%, hospitalization duration = 98.2 ± 43.2 days), 44 (15.0%) underwent 52 antipsychotic trials (olanzapine = 63.5%). In multivariable analyses, antipsychotic use was independently associated with younger age, childhood physical abuse history, comorbid borderline personality traits, and lower pre-antipsychotic weight gain (p < 0.0001). In unmatched groups, antipsychotic-treated versus non-treated youth had significantly lower discharge anthropometric parameters, longer inpatient treatment, and lower weight change/week (p < 0.001–p = 0.005), without significant differences between olanzapine and non-olanzapine antipsychotics (p = 0.27–0.44). Non-significant antipsychotic effects on weight outcomes were confirmed in (1) matched subgroups of antipsychotic-treated versus non-treated youth (n = 43 each), (2) youth with faster versus slower weight gain (n = 21 vs. n = 22), and (3) antipsychotic-treated youth when comparing weight change before versus after antipsychotic use (n = 31). Moreover, in antipsychotic-treated youth, weight change/week remained significantly lower versus matched non-antipsychotic-treated youth (n = 31) both before (p = 0.053) and after (p = 0.006) the median time (5 weeks) until antipsychotic use.ConclusionsIn this naturalistic study, clinician's antipsychotic choice, given to a more severely ill subgroup of adolescents with AN, did not significantly improve overall worse weight change trajectories during inpatient treatment, even in matched subgroups. Randomized trials in individuals reflecting real-world samples are needed to evaluate the utility of antipsychotic treatment in youth with AN.

Replication of the associations of positive, negative, and disorganized schizotypy with interview-assessed symptoms and impairment: Convergence with previous studies.

Schizophrenia-spectrum psychopathology appears best understood as being expressed across a continuum of clinical and subclinical symptoms and impairment referred to as schizotypy. This brief report describes a comprehensive replication study examining the associations of positive, negative, and disorganized schizotypy with interview ratings of impairment, psychopathology, and personality pathology in a sample of 161 young adults. Consistent with past studies, positive, negative, and disorganized schizotypy had distinct and hypothesized associations with symptoms and impairment. Positive schizotypy was associated with prodromal symptoms and schizotypal, paranoid, and borderline personality traits. Negative schizotypy was associated with impaired functioning, negative symptoms, and schizoid, schizotypal, and paranoid traits, as well as any broad personality disorder diagnosis; it was also associated with never having dated. Disorganized schizotypy was associated with impaired functioning, disorganized schizotypic experiences, attentional deficits, and schizotypal, paranoid, borderline, and avoidant personality traits, as well as depression. Overall, we successfully replicated findings from five previous schizotypy interview studies, supporting the construct validity of the multidimensional model of schizotypy and the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).