Impaired memory for cooperative interaction partners in borderline personality disorder

Abstract

Background Interpersonal disturbances in Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) have been attributed to a negativity bias in social cognition. Adding to this literature, we experimentally tested whether those with BPD show altered memory for cooperative versus non-cooperative interaction partners. Methods In a source memory paradigm, 51 female BPD patients and 50 healthy controls (HC) played a trust game with 40 different female target characters (trustworthy vs untrustworthy). In a subsequent surprise memory test, participants had to recognize those target individuals (vs distractor pictures), and had to recall whether they had shown cooperative behavior during the trust game. We hypothesized that BPD patients have better memory for uncooperative interaction partners as compared to cooperative interaction partners, and that a-priori expectations of untrustworthiness would influence recall. Results During the trust game, BPD individuals invested lower amounts of money than HC for trustworthy targets, but no differences were found for untrustworthy targets. During the memory test, BPD patients had significant difficulties to remember cooperative targets, as compared to HC. More specifically, those with BPD indicated more often than HC that they had not previously interacted with cooperative targets of the previous trust game. We did not detect any differences between BPD and HC in source memory, or with regard to the effects of trustworthiness expectations. Conclusions The observed tendency to forget cooperative interaction partners in BPD is possibly caused by dysfunctional cognitive schemas. At the same time, it might also corroborate patients’ assumptions that others are untrustworthy, thereby fuelling interpersonal disturbances in BPD.

COVID-19 prevention behaviour is differentially motivated by primary psychopathy, grandiose narcissism and vulnerable Dark Triad traits

“…A similar profile was evidenced in BPD as higher BPD scores were associated with reduced prevention behaviour due to individuals taking the pandemic less seriously as well as increased beliefs in COVID-19 conspiracy theories, but those scoring higher in BPD traits also engaged in more prevention behaviours because they were more fearful of COVID-19. These relationships tie into seeing the world as hostile and untrustworthy ( Niedtfeld & Kroneisen, 2020 ), as well as impulsivity having a detrimental impact on health outcomes ( Coffey et al, 2011 ; Saunders et al, 2016 ).…”

“…BPD individuals report health complications ( Long et al, 2017 ; Trull et al, 2018 ) caused by impulsivity and risky decision making ( Coffey et al, 2011 ; Saunders et al, 2016 ), which suggests a potential for inadequate COVID-19 prevention behaviour. Even though BPD involves perceiving the world as hostile and untrustworthy ( Niedtfeld & Kroneisen, 2020 ), intentional flouting of COVID-19 prevention regulations for vindictive reasons is unlikely in BPD due to internalising aggression and sensitivity to criticism and abandonment, whilst general and health anxieties are more likely influential factors ( Low et al, 2020 ).…”

Development of a Structured Interview to Explore Interpersonal Schema of Older Adults Living Alone Based on Autobiographical Memory

“…It is known that SDM for interpersonal conflict reflects the interpersonal self-image that individuals have for themselves, and also serves as a manual for coping in relationships with others, whether it is positive or negative [ 26 , 41 ]. For instance, researches examining the memory of patients with Borderline personality disorder (BPD) have discovered that patients frequently recall SDM for failed trust by family members or romantic partners [ 49 ], and that they recall negative social information much better [ 50 , 51 ]. These characteristics of memories seem to eventually serve as a manual for violent and unstable interpersonal behaviors of BPD patients.…”

A Model of Trust Processes in Borderline Personality Disorder: A Systematic Review

“…Niedtfeld and Kroneisen [69] used a single-trial TG and tested whether a BPD group show altered memory for cooperative versus non-cooperative interaction partners relative to a control group. Female BPD patients and healthy controls played 40 rounds of single-trial trust games interacting with trustworthy and untrustworthy faces in a source memory paradigm.…”