The relationship between dispositional mindfulness, borderline personality features, and suicidal ideation in a sample of women in residential substance use treatment

Abstract

Borderline personality disorder (BPD), which is characterized by unstable moods, behavior, and relationships, is also associated with heightened suicidal ideation. Prior research has demonstrated that BPD and suicidal ideation are prevalent among women in substance use treatment. Efforts to treat substance use in this population are made difficult due to the severity of BPD, and it is possible that mindfulness-based interventions specific to substance use could be an effective approach for this population. However, basic research is needed on the relationship between dispositional mindfulness, BPD, and suicidal ideation among women in treatment for substance use to support their associations, which was the purpose of the present study. Pre-existing medical records were reviewed from a residential substance use treatment center. A total of 81 female patients were included in the current study. Patients completed self-report measures of mindfulness, BPD, suicidal ideation, substance use, and impression management at treatment intake. Findings demonstrated dispositional mindfulness to be negatively associated with BPD features and suicidal ideation. With the exception of self-harm, this negative relationship was found even after controlling for age, substance use, and impression management. Future research should examine whether mindfulness-based interventions are an effective treatment for comorbid substance use and BPD.

Relations of mindfulness facets with psychological symptoms among individuals with a diagnosis of obsessive–compulsive disorder, major depressive disorder, or borderline personality disorder

“…2012; Shorey et al, 2016). Moreover, higher levels of trait mindfulness were associated with lower levels of residual depressive symptoms, especially among individuals who have experienced five or more episodes of depression (Radford et al, 2014).…”

“…Mindfulness skills may develop differently in various subgroups of individuals (Liljia, Lundh, Josefsson, & Falkenström, ). Low levels of mindfulness played a significant role in personality psychopathology and were found negatively associated with borderline personality disorder (BPD) features (Fossati, Vigorelli Porro, Maffei, & Borroni, ; Shorey et al ., ). Moreover, higher levels of trait mindfulness were associated with lower levels of residual depressive symptoms, especially among individuals who have experienced five or more episodes of depression (Radford et al ., ).…”

Suicidal and Death Ideation in a Cohort of Psychiatric Outpatients

“…Available research indicates that some degree of suicidal ideation is present in 14 per cent of the general population (Kessler et al, 1999) and in approximately 4 out of 10 (38%) psychiatric outpatients (Dhossche, 2000), with risk factors for suicidal ideation having been found to include both personal and clinical characteristics. The presence and severity of suicidal ideation has been found to be associated with: personal characteristics such as gender and ethnicity (Bartels et al, 2008), stressful life events like unemployment (Blakely, Collings, & Atkinson, 2003), marital status (McLaren, Gomez, Gil, & Chesler, 2015) and a comorbid diagnosis of: depressive disorder or bipolar depression (May et al, 2015;Valtonen et al, 2005), anxiety disorder (Machell, Rallis, & Esposito-Smythers, 2016), borderline personality disorder (Shorey, Wolford-Clevenger, Gawrysiak, Anderson, & Stuart, 2016) and/or a substance use disorder (Zhans & Wu, 2014).…”

Emotion regulation, mindfulness, and self-compassion among patients with borderline personality disorder, compared to healthy control subjects

“…In a study conducted by Nicastro et al [ 38 ] fewer mindfulness skills were found in BPD patients than in control participants. Findings demonstrate that dispositional mindfulness is negatively associated with BPD features and suicidal thinking among patients in substance use treatment [ 39 ]. The inverse relation between BPD and mindfulness can be explained by the difficulties of BPD patients to be consciously aware of their experiences in the present moment instead of focusing on general concepts.…”