Theory of Mind in Borderline Personality Disorder: A Possible Endophenotypic Factor?

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine whether theory of mind (ToM) is an endophenotypic marker of borderline personality disorder (BPD), thus constituting an etiopathogenic factor of the disease. This would suggest familial vulnerability to BPD. This was a case-control study involving 146 individuals with 57 BPD patients, 32 first-degree relatives, and 57 controls (median age of BPD and control = 33.4 years; relatives = 52.9 years; BPD females and controls = 91.2%; female relatives = 62.5%). All the participants completed the Spanish version of the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition test to evaluate the ToM subclassification: interpretation of emotions, thoughts and intentions. BPD patients and their healthy first-degree relatives exhibited significant deficits in the correct interpretation of emotions and intentions compared to healthy controls. Both patients with BPD and their healthy first-degree relatives exhibited significant deficits in ToM, which suggests that it may be an etiopathogenic factor of BPD, and ToM (interpretation of emotions, thoughts and intentions) is a possible endophenotypic marker of BPD, suggesting a genetic predisposition to the disorder. Therefore, ToM could be considered as an indicator for the early detection of the disorder of and intervention for BPD.

Representational similarity analysis of self‐ versus other‐processing: Effect of trait aggressiveness

“…On the other hand, a mature and reflective person can see the differences between the self and different other people. Numerous data show that these processes can be disturbed or biased in some pathological conditions (Koelkebeck et al, 2010; Németh et al, 2018; Ortega‐Díaz et al, 2021). Much less is known about their covariation with personality traits, such as aggressiveness (e.g., Nettle & Liddle, 2008; Rauthmann, 2012).…”