Sense of reality, reality testing and reality processing in borderline patients

Area of Science:

• Psychoanalytic theory
• Psychology of borderline personality disorder

Background:

• Borderline patients often fail repeated reality testing.
• Difficulties in processing reality demands hinder therapeutic success.

Observation:

• Failure stems from an underdeveloped sense of reality.
• Working through the depressive position and Oedipus complex is crucial.

Findings:

• A solid sense of reality facilitates continuous reality processing.
• Repetitive reality testing decreases as processing becomes more integrated.

Implications:

• Psychoanalytic treatment requires careful introduction to triangular situations.
• Primitive defenses like disavowal and denial complicate treatment for borderline patients.