Biting the hand that feeds: current opinion on the interpersonal causes, correlates, and consequences of borderline personality disorder

Abstract

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex psychiatric diagnosis characterized by dysregulated behaviors, emotions, cognitions, and interpersonal relationships. In recent years, developmental psychopathologists have sought to identify early origins of BPD, with the ultimate goal of developing and providing effective preventative interventions for those at highest risk. In addition to heritable biological sensitivities, many scholars assert that environmental and interpersonal risk factors contribute to the emergence and maintenance of key borderline traits. Nonetheless, many BPD researchers examine only affected individuals, neglecting the family, peer, couple, and other dynamic contextual forces that impinge upon individual-level behavior. In the past decade, however, theoretical and empirical research has increasingly explored the interpersonal causes, correlates, and consequences of BPD. Such work has resulted in novel research and clinical theories intended to better understand and improve interpersonal dynamics among those with borderline traits. A major objective for the field is to better characterize how interpersonal dynamics affect (and are affected by) the behaviors, emotions, and thoughts of vulnerable individuals to either reduce or heighten risk for BPD.

Evaluating Emotional and Biological Sensitivity to Maternal Behavior Among Self-Injuring and Depressed Adolescent Girls Using Nonlinear Dynamics

“…In essence, BSCT suggests that emotional sensitivity broadens children’s range of adaptive responding, which is “tuned” to untoward outcomes in contexts of adversity, but favorable outcomes in contexts of enrichment. Following from this logic, BSCT theorists hypothesize that ongoing calibration of emotional and physiological stress systems occurs within parent-child relationships (e.g., Del Giudice, Ellis, & Shirtcliff, 2011), which are often compromised in families of self-injuring youth (see, e.g., Crowell, 2016). To date, there are few tests of sensitivity theories among self-injuring samples.…”

Borderline personality disorder and social connectedness: A systematic review.

“…To date, there are disparate, individual research studies examining the individual indicators of social connectedness and their relation to BPD (e.g., Beeney et al, 2018; Bouchard & Sabourin, 2009; Crowell, 2016; Zanarini et al, 2015). However, while there is literature examining the relationship between social connectedness indicators and BPD, the research literature in this area lacks integration.…”

The Relationship between Survival Sex and Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms in a High Risk Female Population

“…Similar approaches among men who have sex with men have shown that risky sexual behavior accompanies common symptoms of BPD [ 38 ]. Our approach follows the work of Northey et al [ 39 ] in viewing sexual implications of BPD symptomology among a non-clinical population, contributing to an emerging focus on the relational aspects of this mental illness [ 40 ].…”