Aversive tension in patients with borderline personality disorder: a computer-based controlled field study

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is characterized by emotional dysregulation.
• Understanding the subjective experience of tension in BPD is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the subjective experience of aversive tension in individuals with BPD during everyday life.
• To compare the frequency, intensity, and duration of aversive tension states between BPD patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 63 female BPD patients and 40 healthy controls participated.
• Participants used handheld computers to record aversive tension and triggering events hourly over two days.

Main Results:

• BPD patients reported significantly more frequent aversive tension states than controls.
• Aversive tension states in BPD were of higher average levels, increased more rapidly, and persisted longer.
• Rejection, being alone, and failure accounted for 39% of tension-preceding events in BPD.

Conclusions:

• Findings support the hypothesis that BPD involves heightened and prolonged aversive tension.
• The study highlights specific interpersonal and performance-related events as significant triggers for tension in BPD.