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Temperament, character, and attachment patterns in borderline personality disorder
A Fossati1, D Donati, M Donini
1Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Unit, Faculty of Psychology, San Raffaele Vita Salute University. fossati.andrea@hsr.it
Journal of Personality Disorders
|November 29, 2001
Summary
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is specifically linked to distinct temperament traits, not just general personality deficits. These findings hold true even when considering attachment styles, highlighting core personality vulnerabilities in BPD.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry and Psychology
- Personality Disorders
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by emotional instability and interpersonal difficulties.
- Understanding the specific personality traits associated with BPD is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
- Previous research suggests links between temperament, character, and personality disorders, but specificity requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if temperamental vulnerability and character deficits are specifically associated with Borderline personality disorder (BPD).
- To differentiate BPD-related personality traits from those found in other Personality Disorders (PDs) and non-clinical populations.
- To control for the influence of attachment patterns on the relationship between personality traits and BPD.
Main Methods:
- Comparative study design involving patients diagnosed with BPD, other cluster B, A, or C PDs, no PD, and non-clinical individuals.
- Utilized the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), and Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ).
- Employed multivariate and univariate statistical analyses to compare personality and attachment variables across groups.
Main Results:
- Patients with Borderline personality disorder (BPD) exhibited significant differences in Novelty Seeking and Cooperativeness compared to all control groups.
- These distinct patterns in Novelty Seeking and Cooperativeness remained statistically significant after accounting for attachment styles.
- The findings suggest that specific temperamental traits are uniquely associated with BPD.
Conclusions:
- Temperamental vulnerability, specifically in Novelty Seeking and Cooperativeness, is a specific correlate of Borderline personality disorder (BPD).
- These core personality traits are distinct to BPD and not merely a consequence of general personality deficits or attachment patterns.
- The results underscore the importance of assessing specific temperamental dimensions in the context of BPD.