Borderline personality disorder traits and mentalising ability: The self-other social cognition paradox

ObjectiveBorderline personality disorder (BPD) is a psychiatric condition characterised by a pervasive pattern of impulsivity, low self-image, and interpersonal conflicts. Previous findings indicate a mixed relationship between BPD and social cognition; little research as investigated whether BPD tr...

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Main Authors: Molly Kelly Grealy, Emmet Godfrey, Finn Brady, Erin Whyte O’Sullivan, Grace A. Carroll, Tom Burke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-10-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1023348/full
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author Molly Kelly Grealy
Emmet Godfrey
Finn Brady
Erin Whyte O’Sullivan
Grace A. Carroll
Tom Burke
Tom Burke
author_facet Molly Kelly Grealy
Emmet Godfrey
Finn Brady
Erin Whyte O’Sullivan
Grace A. Carroll
Tom Burke
Tom Burke
author_sort Molly Kelly Grealy
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveBorderline personality disorder (BPD) is a psychiatric condition characterised by a pervasive pattern of impulsivity, low self-image, and interpersonal conflicts. Previous findings indicate a mixed relationship between BPD and social cognition; little research as investigated whether BPD traits influence performance on specific elements of social cognitive tasks, i.e., positive/negative valence.MethodCommunity-based typical controls (n = 151; 51% female) were recruited through an online survey. Participants completed aspects of the Personality Assessment Inventory pertaining to BPD traits, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and measures of both emotion recognition and mentalising.ResultsFollowing group stratification into high/low BPD traits, participants with high BPD traits were observed to perform significantly better when identifying negative valence stimuli. Furthermore, high levels of affect instability was found to significantly influence negative valence recognition.ConclusionThis research highlights previous research which shows a paradox between higher performance on measures of social cognition, with a group of individuals who report significant interpersonal and relational difficulties. This research supports the assessment of social cognitive processes for people with BPD and/or high BPD traits to support clinical formulation of strengths and difficulties.
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spelling doaj.art-b3b4fbc95cd041b4bdd1422ac50ff96e2022-12-22T03:25:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402022-10-011310.3389/fpsyt.2022.10233481023348Borderline personality disorder traits and mentalising ability: The self-other social cognition paradoxMolly Kelly Grealy0Emmet Godfrey1Finn Brady2Erin Whyte O’Sullivan3Grace A. Carroll4Tom Burke5Tom Burke6School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, IrelandSchool of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, IrelandSchool of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, IrelandSchool of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, IrelandSchool of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United KingdomSchool of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, IrelandGalway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, IrelandObjectiveBorderline personality disorder (BPD) is a psychiatric condition characterised by a pervasive pattern of impulsivity, low self-image, and interpersonal conflicts. Previous findings indicate a mixed relationship between BPD and social cognition; little research as investigated whether BPD traits influence performance on specific elements of social cognitive tasks, i.e., positive/negative valence.MethodCommunity-based typical controls (n = 151; 51% female) were recruited through an online survey. Participants completed aspects of the Personality Assessment Inventory pertaining to BPD traits, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and measures of both emotion recognition and mentalising.ResultsFollowing group stratification into high/low BPD traits, participants with high BPD traits were observed to perform significantly better when identifying negative valence stimuli. Furthermore, high levels of affect instability was found to significantly influence negative valence recognition.ConclusionThis research highlights previous research which shows a paradox between higher performance on measures of social cognition, with a group of individuals who report significant interpersonal and relational difficulties. This research supports the assessment of social cognitive processes for people with BPD and/or high BPD traits to support clinical formulation of strengths and difficulties.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1023348/fullborderline personality disorder traitssocial cognitionmentalisingemotion recognitionempathy
spellingShingle Molly Kelly Grealy
Emmet Godfrey
Finn Brady
Erin Whyte O’Sullivan
Grace A. Carroll
Tom Burke
Tom Burke
Borderline personality disorder traits and mentalising ability: The self-other social cognition paradox
Frontiers in Psychiatry
borderline personality disorder traits
social cognition
mentalising
emotion recognition
empathy
title Borderline personality disorder traits and mentalising ability: The self-other social cognition paradox
title_full Borderline personality disorder traits and mentalising ability: The self-other social cognition paradox
title_fullStr Borderline personality disorder traits and mentalising ability: The self-other social cognition paradox
title_full_unstemmed Borderline personality disorder traits and mentalising ability: The self-other social cognition paradox
title_short Borderline personality disorder traits and mentalising ability: The self-other social cognition paradox
title_sort borderline personality disorder traits and mentalising ability the self other social cognition paradox
topic borderline personality disorder traits
social cognition
mentalising
emotion recognition
empathy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1023348/full
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