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Self-concept structure and borderline personality disorder: evidence for negative compartmentalization
Aline Vater1, Michela Schröder-Abé2, Susan Weißgerber3
1University of Darmstadt, Germany; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Germany.
Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
|September 16, 2014
Summary
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) patients exhibit a highly compartmentalized self-concept, with more negative self-attributes than other groups. This negative self-concept structure appears specific to BPD.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is marked by an unstable self-concept.
- Empirical research on self-concept structure in BPD is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct an in-depth analysis of the structural aspects of self-concept in BPD.
- To investigate the degree of self-concept compartmentalization in individuals with BPD.
Main Methods:
- Examined the tendency to organize self-knowledge into discrete, extremely valenced categories (compartmentalization).
- Compared self-concept structure in BPD patients with non-clinical and depressed control groups.
Main Results:
- BPD patients demonstrated the most compartmentalized self-concept structure.
- BPD patients had a higher proportion of negative self-attributes compared to control groups.
- Negative self-aspects were rated as more important than positive ones in BPD patients.
Conclusions:
- A negative, compartmentalized self-concept is a specific characteristic of BPD.
- Findings suggest implications for BPD assessment and treatment.
- Further research is needed to explore causal relationships and compare with other psychiatric disorders.
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