Relations of Maternal Borderline Personality Disorder Features With Preschooler Executive Functioning and Theory of Mind

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 565-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen Zalewski ◽  
Nicole Musser ◽  
Grace Binion ◽  
Jennifer K. Lewis ◽  
Jacqueline R. O'Brien
Keyword(s):  
Borderline Personality Disorder ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Risk Group ◽  
Borderline Personality ◽  
High Risk Group ◽  
Child Age

Although children of mothers who have elevated borderline personality disorder (BPD) features are a high-risk group, there remains little research examining developmental mechanisms that place these offspring at risk for emerging psychopathology. The current study included 68 mother–preschooler dyads, in which mothers with elevated BPD features were oversampled. Preschoolers (aged 3 and 4 years) completed a battery of executive functioning (EF) and theory of mind (ToM) measures. Accounting for several covariates (family income, maternal depression, child age, and child cognitive ability), maternal BPD features were associated with preschoolers' poorer EF and, although not associated with the overall ToM measure, were associated with affect perspective taking, a component of ToM.

A meta-analysis of theory of mind and ‘mentalization’ in borderline personality disorder: a true neuro-social-cognitive or meta-social-cognitive impairment?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Emre Bora
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Borderline Personality Disorder ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Cognitive Style ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Borderline Personality ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Meta Analyses

Abstract Background It is widely accepted that borderline personality disorder (BPD) is associated with significant impairments in mentalization and theory of mind (ToM) which are considered as closely related concepts by many authors particularly in psychoanalytical circles. However, for understanding interpersonal difficulties in personality disorders, it is important to distinguish neuro-social cognitive impairment from the abnormal meta-social-cognitive style of patients. Methods The current systematic review aimed to conduct separate meta-analyses of ‘mentalization’ [reflective functioning (RF] and different aspects of ToM in BPD. A literature search was conducted to locate relevant articles published between January 1990 to July 2021. Random-effect meta-analyses were conducted in 34 studies involving 1448 individuals with BPD and 2006 healthy controls. Results A very large impairment in RF was evident in BPD [d = 1.68, confidence interval (CI) = 1.17–2.19]. In contrast, ToM impairment was modest (d = 0.36, CI = 0.24–0.48). BPD patients underperformed healthy controls in ToM-reasoning (d = 0.44, CI = 0.32–0.56) but not ToM-decoding. Increased HyperToM (d = 0.60, CI = 0.41–0.79) and faux pas recognition (d = 0.62, CI = 0.35–0.90) errors in BPD compared to healthy controls were most robust ToM findings in this meta-analysis. Conclusions BPD is characterized by very severe deficits in RF and modest and selective abnormalities in ToM. Interpersonal problems and difficulties in processing social information in BPD can be best explained by patients' maldaptive meta-social cognitive style and top-down effects of these abnormalities rather than having a primary neuro-social cognitive deficit.

scholarly journals Are Impairments in Theory of Mind Specific to Borderline Personality Disorder?

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 827-841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eivind Normann-Eide ◽  
Bj⊘rnar Torske Antonsen ◽  
Elfrida Hartveit Kvarstein ◽  
Geir Pedersen ◽  
Anja Vaskinn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Borderline Personality Disorder ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Personality Disorders ◽  
Interpersonal Problems ◽  
Borderline Personality ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Per Se ◽  
The Relationship

Impaired theory of mind (ToM) is an assumed feature of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Yet, no studies have compared ToM abilities in patients with BPD, other personality disorders, and healthy controls, or investigated the relationship between ToM and severity of psychopathology and interpersonal problems. In this study, ToM was investigated by the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition. No differences were found between the three groups in overall ToM abilities. The BPD group was, however, characterized by more excessive ToM (interpreted as hypermentalization). Yet, when differentiating between BPD and further severity indicators, excessive ToM was not specifically associated with a BPD diagnosis per se. Finally, there was a moderate association between hypermentalization and interpersonal problems in the BPD group. This study suggests that BPD patients tend to hypermentalize when they misinterpret social information, and that this tendency is related to the severity of their psychopathology.

scholarly journals Alterations of empathy in mothers with a history of early life maltreatment, depression, and borderline personality disorder and their effects on child psychopathology

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
pp. 1182-1190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Dittrich ◽  
Felix Bermpohl ◽  
Dorothea Kluczniok ◽  
Catherine Hindi Attar ◽  
Charlotte Jaite ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Borderline Personality Disorder ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Child Psychopathology ◽  
Child Behavior Checklist ◽  
Borderline Personality ◽  
Reactivity Index ◽  
Personal Distress

AbstractBackgroundEarly life maltreatment (ELM), borderline personality disorder (BPD), and major depressive disorder (MDD) have been associated with empathy deficits in different domains. Lack of maternal empathy has also been related to child behavioral problems. As ELM, BPD, and MDD often co-occur, we aimed to identify dissociable effects on empathy due to these three factors. In addition, we aimed to investigate their indirect effects via empathy on child psychopathology.MethodsWe included 251 mothers with and without MDD (in remission), BPD and ELM and their children, aged 5–12. We used the Interpersonal Reactivity Index as a measure of empathy on four different dimensions (personal distress, empathic concern, perspective taking, and fantasy) and the Child Behavior Checklist as a measure of child psychopathology.ResultsHaving included all three factors (ELM, MDD, BPD) in one analysis, we found elevated personal distress in MDD and BPD, and lower levels of perspective-taking in BPD, but no effects from ELM on any empathy subscales. Furthermore, we found indirect effects from maternal BPD and MDD on child psychopathology, via maternal personal distress.ConclusionThe present study demonstrated the dissociable effects of maternal ELM, MDD, and BPD on empathy. Elevated personal distress in mothers with BPD and MDD may lead to higher levels of child psychopathology.

Theory of mind and depersonalization in borderline personality disorder

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. S874-S875
Author(s):  
S.L. Romero Guillena ◽  
F. Gotor Sanchez-Luengo ◽  
B.O. Plasencia Garcia de Diego
Keyword(s):  
Borderline Personality Disorder ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Borderline Personality

Executive dysfunction in bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 959-964 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.Z. Gvirts ◽  
Y. Braw ◽  
H. Harari ◽  
M. Lozin ◽  
Y. Bloch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Borderline Personality Disorder ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Executive Dysfunction ◽  
Borderline Personality ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Strategy Formation

AbstractObjectiveThe boundary between bipolar disorder (BD) and borderline personality disorder is a controversial one. Despite the importance of the topic, few studies have directly compared these patient groups. The aim of the study was to compare the executive functioning profile of BD and BPD patients.MethodExecutive functioning (sustained attention, problem-solving, planning, strategy formation, cognitive flexibility and working memory) was assessed in BD (n= 30) and BPD outpatients (n= 32) using a computerized assessment battery (Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery, CANTAB). The groups were compared to one another as well as to healthy controls.ResultsBD patients showed deficits in strategy formation and in planning (indicated by longer execution time in the ToL task) in comparison to BPD patients and healthy controls. BPD patients showed deficits in planning (short deliberation time in the ToL task) in comparison to BD patients and in comparison to healthy controls. In comparison to healthy controls, BPD patients displayed deficits in problem-solving.ConclusionsDifferences in executive dysfunction between BD and BPD patients suggest that this cognitive dimension may be relevant for the clarification of the boundary between the disorders.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document