Characterological Aspects of Depression in Borderline Patients

Difficulties regulating positive emotions and alcohol and drug misuse: A path analysis

“…Findings highlighting the relevance of difficulties regulating positive emotions to alcohol and drug misuse are consistent with theory. For some individuals, positive emotional states may be experienced as distressing (Beblo et al, 2013; Kissen, 1986). Negative evaluations of positive emotions (e.g., experiencing them as dangerous or bad) may result in secondary emotional responses, such as fear or guilt (Gratz & Tull, 2010).…”

“…These domains may also play an important role in alcohol and drug use. For instance, there is evidence that some individuals are non-accepting of positive emotional states, judging them to be undesirable, unpredictable, and/or frightening (Beblo et al, 2013; Kissen, 1986). Other research has found some individuals to avoid the physiological arousal associated with positive emotional states (Roemer, Litz, Orsillo, & Wagner, 2001; Tull, 2006), indicating that positive emotional states may be distressing to some people.…”

A Preliminary Examination of the Role of Emotion Differentiation in the Relationship Between Borderline Personality and Urges for Maladaptive Behaviors

“…For example, the regulation of positive emotions has been found to be cognitively taxing (Gross and John 2003; Gross and Levenson 1997), which may deplete self-regulatory resources and, subsequently, heighten risk for involvement in maladaptive behaviors (Baumeister, Bratslavsky, Muraven and Tice 1998). Further, there is evidence that individuals may be nonaccepting of positive emotions (e.g., Beblo, Fernando, Klocke, Griepenstroh, Aschenbrenner, and Driessen 2012; Kissen 1986) or seek to avoid physiological arousal associated with positive emotions (see Roemer, Litz, Orsillo, and Wagner 2001; Tull 2006). Additionally, extant literature suggests that positive emotional states increase distractibility (Dreisbach and Goschke, 2004) and lead to less discriminative use of information (Forgas 1992; Forgas and Bower 1987), increasing risk for poor decision-making (Slovic, Finucane, Peters, and MacGregor 2004).…”

Factor Structure and Initial Validation of a Multidimensional Measure of Difficulties in the Regulation of Positive Emotions

“…First, theoretical and empirical literature suggest that individuals may experience dysregulation across both positive and negative emotional systems (e.g., Linehan, 1993; Linehan, Bohus, & Lynch, 2007; Segal, Williams, & Teasdale, 2002). For example, patients with borderline personality disorder and major depressive disorder have been found to display nonacceptance of both negative and positive mood states (e.g., Beblo et al, 2012; Kissen, 1986), judging both to be undesirable, unpredictable, and/or frightening. Similarly, evidence suggests that individuals with posttraumatic stress or panic disorders may seek to avoid any form of arousal, including the physiological arousal associated with some positive emotional states (see Roemer, Litz, Orsillo, & Wagner, 2001; Tull, 2006).…”