Download Borderline Personality Disorder Diagnostic Criteria

Overview of Research in Lab
of Dr. Rosemery Nelson Gray
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 1. Past recent research focused on risk (for
psychopathology) and resilience (for coping)
produced by BIS (Behavioral Inhibition System) and
BAS (Behavioral Activation System) of
Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory
 2. Current research focuses on processes related to
borderline personality disorder traits
Borderline Personality Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria
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DSM-IV-TR & DSM-5
301.83 Borderline Personality Disorder
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 A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal
relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked
impulsivity beginning by early adulthood and
present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five
(or more) of the following nine diagnostic criteria:
Borderline PD diagnostic criteria 1-4
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 Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined
abandonment
 A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal
relationships characterized by alternating between
extremes of idealization and devaluation
 Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently
unstable self-image or sense of self
 Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially
self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse,
reckless driving, binge eating)
Borderline PD diagnostic criteria #5-9
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 Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self
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mutilating behavior
Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood
(e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety
usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a
few days)
Chronic feelings of emptiness
Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling
anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger,
recurrent physical fights)
Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe
dissociative symptoms
Typical Lab Research Paradigm
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 1. Participants are undergraduates from the participant
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pool.
2. Borderline personality traits are examined
dimensionally, with participants along a continuum of
higher and lower degrees of borderline personality
disorder traits.
3. Typically, participants come to our lab and partake of
the experimental paradigm on lab computers:
A. Pre measures
B. Lab manipulation
C. Post measures
4. Research questions focus on different processes in
those high in borderline personality disorder traits
Past lab studies on relationships and BPD traits
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 Diagnostic criterion #1: Frantic efforts to avoid real
or imagined abandonment
 Katie Kuhlken thesis: The interaction of BPD
symptoms and daily relationship dissatisfaction
measures predicted anger (not anxiety nor
depression). Anger is noted in Diagnostic Criterion
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 Daily diary method
 Personality disorders: Theory, research, and
treatment, 2014, 5, 20-25.
Katie Kuhlken dissertation
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L I T E R AT U R E R E V I E W : W O M E N W I T H B P D
F R E Q U E N T LY PA R T N E R E D W I T H M E N W I T H
AN TI S O C I AL O R N AR C I S S I S TI C P E R S O N AL I TY
DISORDER
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PA R T I C I PA N T S C O M P L E T E D N E O - P I O N
T H E M S E LV E S A N D O N T H E I R PA R T N E R S
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WOMEN HIGHER IN BPD TRAITS PREFERRED
PARTNERS SIMILAR TO THEMSELVES
(SIMILARITY MODEL) (INCLUDING HIGH
NEUROTICISM) RATHER THAN PARTNERS
DISSIMILAR TO THEMSELVES
(COMPLEMENTARITY MODEL)
Past lab studies on relationships and BPD traits –
rejection manipulation
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 Stephanie Skinner’s dissertation
 Participants either relived a personal rejection
experience or a control acceptance experience.
 Main effect for rejection on 1-9 rating scale (positive
to negative)
 Women higher in BPD traits showed more anger and
depression (not anxiety) (on POMS) following a
rejection experience.
 Same effects when Rejection Sensitivity scores were
partialled out
Lab studies on the function of romantic
relationship
in
BPD
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 Diagnostic criterion: Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined
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abandonment
Why? What is the purpose or function that romantic relationships
serve for those high in BPD that makes these relationships so
important to them?
1. Questionnaire results, such as Social Provisions Scale
2. Free-form responses, coded for functions
3. Results: Relationships serve similar functions for those across
the borderline trait continuum, but participants higher in
borderline traits are more anxious or worried about maintaining
their relationships (consistent with a large literature that
borderlines have insecure attachment patterns)
4. Current study - experience sampling methodology (ESM) –daily
data collection on relationship satisfaction and daily relationship
functions
Recently completed study– effects of rejection on
impulsivity on those higher in borderline traits
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 Alex Birthrong thesis - Undergraduate participants (n = 195) were randomly
assigned to a social rejection or academic failure task in which they were asked
to write about a time when they felt intensely socially rejected, or a time they
experienced an academic failure, respectively. A main effect of BPD traits was
found for reported risk-taking after the social rejection or academic failure
(e.g., alcohol use, risky sexual behavior, drug use), more risky performance on a
computerized analogue risk-taking task the Balloon Analogue Risk Task
(BART), and emotional reactions to the relived event. An interaction between
rejection condition and level of BPD traits was found to predict alcohol use,
risky sexual behavior, total self-reported risk-taking behavior, and the
importance of the relived event. behavior, drug use, other risk-taking behavior
(e.g., reckless driving, self-injury), total risk-taking behavior (a composite sum
of all self-reported risk-taking behavior scales), BART performance, and
emotional reactions to the relived event. All results using a second
computerized analogue risk task, the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) were
nonsignificant. Lastly, and contrary to expectation, a significant interaction
between BPD traits and rejection in predicting Profile of Mood States Total
Mood Disturbance was not found.
Recently completed study – effects of “rejection” on tolerance
of sexual coercion on those higher in borderline traits
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 Malachi Willis thesis: This study attempted to induce feelings of
insecurity about one’s romantic relationship—using a false feedback
manipulation—to see if this prime lead to attitudes more tolerant of
sexual coercion from a romantic partner, which is a risk factor for
intimate partner victimization. Participants were randomly told that
they match poorly or highly with their partners. Participants higher
in BPD features reported more tolerant attitudes toward sexual
coercion. Moreover, there may be a significant interaction between
BPD traits and condition. Those in the poorly matched condition
expressed more tolerant attitudes toward sexual coercion the higher
their borderline features; this association was not present in the
highly matched condition. Follow-up analyses investigated various
motivations for and approaches to sexual behavior. It appears that
those higher in borderline features in the poorly matched condition
use sexual behavior to avoid losing their partner or having conflict
with their partner.
Current studies in progress (1)
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 1. Experience sampling methodology (ESM) – initial
questionnaires (including a borderline measure) and
explanation to participants re. ESM methods – daily ratings of
relationship satisfaction and rationale for the rating based on
common functions of relationships
 2. Jake King’s dissertation – effects of inducing a sad mood
interacting with emotion dysregulation (borderline traits) in
producing response inhibition in cognitive lab tasks (data
collection completed)
 3. Blake and Shannon – participants with range of borderline
traits – reaction to rejection by potential friends vs. potential
romantic partners – pilot study completed; follow-up to be
conducted
Current studies in progress (2)
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 4. Sudheera – pre-measure of mood and emotion regulation,
lab manipulation intended to dysregulate emotion (vs. a
control task), post-measure of mood and emotion regulation,
lab task intended to assess interpersonal functioning
 5. Shannon – pre-measure of mood, lab manipulation
intended to awaken prosocial values, post-measure of mood,
lab task intended to assess prosocial behavior
 6. Morgan –pre-measure of mood, cyberball task intended to
manipulate feelings of rejection or not, post-measure of mood,
lab task intended to assess emotion dysregulation (Emotion
Stroop)
 7. Ian – pre-measure of mood, cyberball task intended to
manipulate feelings of rejection or not, post-measure of mood,
lab task intended to assess impulsivity (Stop Light Driving
Task, Balloon Analogue Risk Task)