Borderline personality pathology and the stability of interpersonal problems

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Personality Disorders

Background:

• Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is associated with interpersonal problems, but individuals with BPD show diverse interpersonal difficulties.
• Temporal instability is a key feature of BPD, raising questions about changes in interpersonal dysfunction over time.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between BPD features and the stability of interpersonal problems over a one-year period.
• To examine how BPD predicts changes in the manifestation of interpersonal dysfunction.

Main Methods:

• 150 participants with BPD features were assessed at baseline and quarterly for one year.
• Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-Circumplex Scales measured interpersonal problems.
• Baseline BPD predicted structured and unstructured change parameters in interpersonal distress.

Main Results:

• Baseline BPD predicted average levels of generalized interpersonal distress.
• Baseline BPD predicted instability (unstructured change) in agentic and communal interpersonal problems.
• BPD did not predict linear change trajectories (structured change) in interpersonal problems.

Conclusions:

• Interpersonal dysfunction in BPD is characterized by stable severity but unstable manifestation styles.
• Findings highlight the dynamic nature of interpersonal difficulties in borderline personality pathology.