The transdiagnostic role of boredom within personality disorder symptoms and risk-related behaviors: Implications for...

Boredom has been historically overlooked in clinical settings. However, substantial research suggests that one's vulnerability to boredom (boredom proneness) is linked to numerous psychiatric conditions and negative mental health outcomes, including domains and facets implicated in the Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD). Boredom appears to have specific relevance to the classifications of Borderline and Antisocial Personality Disorders (BPD; APD), and theoretical work has suggested that boredom may be positively affected by an evidence-based treatment for BPD, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). In two studies, we examined the links between boredom proneness, recent boredom experiences, and personality in terms of traits and behavioral symptoms. Study 1 (n = 290) demonstrated positive associations between boredom proneness, recent boredom, general personality functioning, and traits associated with BPD and APD in a large online sample. Moreover, a unique relationship was observed between boredom and BPD symptoms when controlling for APD traits and general personality functioning. Study 2 (n = 34) examined the role of boredom in an intensive outpatient DBT program, demonstrating links between boredom, suicide ideation, and self-injury urges across treatment timepoints. Boredom was significantly associated with borderline symptom severity and predicted more severe BPD symptoms at the midpoint and endpoint of treatment. Together, these findings suggest that boredom plays a robust role in various dimensions of personality psychopathology, and that addressing boredom within treatments for these conditions may impact outcomes.