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Uzar M, Dmitrzak-Węglarz M, Słopień A. Mentalizing in Adolescents with Borderline Personality Disorder. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1473. [PMID: 37891840 PMCID: PMC10605837 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13101473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Mentalizing, recognized as the capacity to understand behaviors in the context of our own mental states and those of other people, is being researched more and more commonly in regard to various mental disorders. The research on mentalization focuses on, among other things, borderline personality disorder, which is at present perceived as an emerging problem in the population of adolescents. In order to summarize the currently accessible knowledge of mentalizing in adolescents with borderline personality disorder, we thoroughly analyzed relevant publications. Based on the available literature, it can be concluded that the mentalizing ability of adolescents with borderline personality disorder can be impaired. The evidence demonstrates that they are prone to hypermentalizing, defined as an overattribution of mental states to other people. However, this tendency has not been proven to be specific to teenagers with this disorder. Moreover, the existing data suggest that young people with borderline personality exhibit a reduced capacity to mentalize their own inner states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Uzar
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Karol Jonscher Clinical Hospital, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Szpitalna 27/33 St., 60-572 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Monika Dmitrzak-Węglarz
- Department of Psychiatric Genetics, Medical Biology Center, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka St. 8, 60-806 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Agnieszka Słopień
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Karol Jonscher Clinical Hospital, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Szpitalna 27/33 St., 60-572 Poznan, Poland;
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Robin M, Bellone L, Belbèze J, Kazemian K, Radjack R, Corcos M. Three-level containment model of hospitalized adolescents with borderline pathology: a holistic therapeutic perspective. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1110788. [PMID: 37608992 PMCID: PMC10441123 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1110788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Borderline personality disorders account for 50% of adolescent hospitalization cases in psychiatry. The severity and psychopathological complexity of these symptoms indicate the need for inclusive models of understanding. Adopting a holistic approach allows for the consideration of not only the patient's environment, but also their position within that environment and their life history. In this article, a model based on the concept of therapeutic containment at three levels is presented. Global containment refers to the mindset and organization of the institution that provides care, which is itself a part of society at a specific time. Local containment focuses on understanding and therapeutic interventions within the immediate social environment of the individual. Lastly, individual containment encompasses the development of independent processes during the course of care. These three levels are integrated in the hospital treatment of borderline personality disorders, forming a trans-theoretical approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Robin
- Department of Adolescent and Young Adult Psychiatry, Institut Mutualiste Montsouris, Paris, France
- Paris-Saclay University, UVSQ, CESP, INSERM U1178, Team PsyDev, Villejuif, France
- Paris Cité University, Paris, France
| | - Laura Bellone
- Department of Adolescent and Young Adult Psychiatry, Institut Mutualiste Montsouris, Paris, France
- Paris Cité University, Paris, France
| | - Jean Belbèze
- Department of Adolescent and Young Adult Psychiatry, Institut Mutualiste Montsouris, Paris, France
- Paris Cité University, Paris, France
| | - Koucha Kazemian
- Department of Adolescent and Young Adult Psychiatry, Institut Mutualiste Montsouris, Paris, France
- Paris Cité University, Paris, France
| | - Rahmeth Radjack
- Paris-Saclay University, UVSQ, CESP, INSERM U1178, Team PsyDev, Villejuif, France
- Paris Cité University, Paris, France
- Maison de Solenn, Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Cochin Hospital, AP-HP, Paris University, Paris, France
| | - Maurice Corcos
- Department of Adolescent and Young Adult Psychiatry, Institut Mutualiste Montsouris, Paris, France
- Paris Cité University, Paris, France
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Benzi IMA, Fontana A, Barone L, Preti E, Parolin L, Ensink K. Emerging personality in adolescence: developmental trajectories, internalizing and externalizing problems, and the role of mentalizing abilities. J Adolesc 2022; 95:537-552. [PMID: 36564966 DOI: 10.1002/jad.12134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Identifying longitudinal trajectories of emerging personality (EP) is crucial to highlight developmental patterns that might foster personality pathology in adolescence and early adulthood. Research on the exacerbation of personality pathology in adolescence identifies the significant contribution of internalizing and externalizing problems and suggests the importance of considering aspects such as mentalization, while accounting for gender differences. METHODS In our study, we adopted a mixed-model approach to (1) explore longitudinally EP (Adolescent Personality Structure Questionnaire; APS-Q) over 12 months in a sample of adolescents (N = 178, 62% females, mAGE = 15.04, SD = 1.27), accounting for gender effects. Moreover, (2) we assessed the longitudinal effect of internalizing and externalizing problems (Youth Self-Report; YSR-112) on EP. Finally, (3) we addressed the moderating role of mentalization (Movie Assessment for Social Cognition; MASC) in this developmental pathway. RESULTS Results highlighted a two-way pattern of EP. No changes were found in the level of difficulties in Self-acceptance, Investments and Goals, and Relationships with family dimensions. However, significant changes were found in personality functioning in the dimensions of Sense of Self, Aggression, and Relationships with friends. More, changes in difficulties in Sexuality emerged only in females. Also, gender differences emerged in the level of severity of EP. In addition, Internalizing and Externalizing problems differentially predicted difficulties in personality dimensions. Finally, mentalizing features moderated the relationship between Internalizing problems and Sense of Self and Internalizing problems and Self-acceptance, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our contribution aligns with recent developmental models of personality pathology, suggesting that different personality dimensions develop at different paces. More, it highlights the predictive power of externalizing and internalizing problems on difficulties in personality dimensions. Finally, it advances the discussion on the contribution of mentalizing abilities to EP.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Fontana
- Department of Human Science, LUMSA University, Rome, Italy
| | - Lavinia Barone
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Emanuele Preti
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Parolin
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Karin Ensink
- Department of Psychology, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
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Lund SH, Bo S, Bach B, Jørgensen MS, Simonsen E. Mentalizing in Adolescents With and Without Prominent Borderline Features: Validation of the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire for Youths (RFQY) and an Investigation of the Factor Structure of Hypo- and Hypermentalizing. J Pers Assess 2022:1-12. [PMID: 35377829 DOI: 10.1080/00223891.2022.2055474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The Reflective Functioning Questionnaire for Youths (RFQY) is a self-report measure of reflective functioning (RF) also referred to as mentalizing. Lower levels of RF are characteristic of a wide range of mental disorders and are especially relevant in the assessment of personality pathology. The goal of the current study is to examine the psychometric properties of a Danish translation of the RFQY and to corroborate previous research on the measure's ability to differentiate between adolescents with and without borderline personality disorder (BPD) features. 889 adolescents were administered the RFQY and divided into three subsamples: a community sample (n = 644), a clinical non-personality disorder sample (n = 64), and a BPD sample (n = 181). Construct validity was examined through bivariate correlations between RFQY and a dimensional assessment of borderline personality features. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) supported the utility of the RFQY to discriminate between adolescents with and without BPD features. Moreover, a two-factor structure based on previous research of the adult version of the RFQ was examined. A series of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses yielded a two-factor structure corroborating previous research. Implications for prevention, assessment, and treatment are discussed along with methodological limitations and suggestions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sune Bo
- Psychiatric Research Unit, Psychiatry Region Zealand, Denmark.,Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Department, Region Zealand, Denmark.,Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bo Bach
- Center for Personality Disorder Research (CPDR), Psychiatric Research Unit, Mental Health Services, Region Zealand, Denmark
| | - Mie Sedoc Jørgensen
- Psychiatric Research Unit, Psychiatry Region Zealand, Denmark.,Center for Personality Disorder Research (CPDR), Psychiatric Research Unit, Mental Health Services, Region Zealand, Denmark
| | - Erik Simonsen
- Psychiatric Research Unit, Psychiatry Region Zealand, Denmark.,Center for Personality Disorder Research (CPDR), Psychiatric Research Unit, Mental Health Services, Region Zealand, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
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Zhuo C, Chen G, Lin C, Jia F, Yang L, Zhang Q, Chen J, Tian H, Jiang D. A borderline personality assessment for adolescents: Validity and reliability of the Chinese languages borderline personality features scale (short form version) for adolescents/children. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:1050559. [PMID: 36590618 PMCID: PMC9798434 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1050559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by behavioral patterns that promote suffering in many adolescents and their guardians. Currently, early diagnosis of BPD mainly depends on the effective assessment of pathological personality traits (i.e., borderline personality features) and using the indicated scales. The Borderline Personality Features Scale for Children-Short Form (BPFSC-SF) is widely used and the introduction of a Chinese version of the BPFSC-SF, can improve the diagnosis and prognosis of Chinese patients with BPD. OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to assess the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the BPFSC-SF. METHOD 120 adolescents with BPD were enrolled in the present study and completed the BPFSC-SF and the Personality Belief Questionnaire-Short Form (PBQ-SF) assessments. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test assessment validity. Test-retest correlations and the Cronbach's α coefficients were used to determine reliability. RESULTS CFA analysis identified primary factors of BPFSC, with each item ranging from 0.597~0.899. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient was 0.877 between CL-BFSFC-SF and the state vs. trait loneliness scale. The Cronbach's α of the scale was 0.854 in the clinical group. The test-retest reliability correlation coefficient (interclass correlation coefficients.ICC) was 0.937. CONCLUSION The Chinese version of BPFSC-SF is a valid and reliable tool for adolescent Chinese patients with BPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanjun Zhuo
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China.,Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China.,PNGC_Lab, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Guangdong Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chongguang Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Feng Jia
- PNGC_Lab, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Lei Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Qiuyu Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiayue Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Hongjun Tian
- Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Deguo Jiang
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
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Bora E. A meta-analysis of theory of mind and 'mentalization' in borderline personality disorder: a true neuro-social-cognitive or meta-social-cognitive impairment? Psychol Med 2021; 51:2541-2551. [PMID: 34530941 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721003718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is widely accepted that borderline personality disorder (BPD) is associated with significant impairments in mentalization and theory of mind (ToM) which are considered as closely related concepts by many authors particularly in psychoanalytical circles. However, for understanding interpersonal difficulties in personality disorders, it is important to distinguish neuro-social cognitive impairment from the abnormal meta-social-cognitive style of patients. METHODS The current systematic review aimed to conduct separate meta-analyses of 'mentalization' [reflective functioning (RF] and different aspects of ToM in BPD. A literature search was conducted to locate relevant articles published between January 1990 to July 2021. Random-effect meta-analyses were conducted in 34 studies involving 1448 individuals with BPD and 2006 healthy controls. RESULTS A very large impairment in RF was evident in BPD [d = 1.68, confidence interval (CI) = 1.17-2.19]. In contrast, ToM impairment was modest (d = 0.36, CI = 0.24-0.48). BPD patients underperformed healthy controls in ToM-reasoning (d = 0.44, CI = 0.32-0.56) but not ToM-decoding. Increased HyperToM (d = 0.60, CI = 0.41-0.79) and faux pas recognition (d = 0.62, CI = 0.35-0.90) errors in BPD compared to healthy controls were most robust ToM findings in this meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS BPD is characterized by very severe deficits in RF and modest and selective abnormalities in ToM. Interpersonal problems and difficulties in processing social information in BPD can be best explained by patients' maldaptive meta-social cognitive style and top-down effects of these abnormalities rather than having a primary neuro-social cognitive deficit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Bora
- Department of Psychiatry, Dokuz Eylul University Medical School, Izmir35340, Turkey
- Department of Neurosciences, Insitiute of Health, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
- Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Carlton South, Victoria3053, Australia
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Cortés-García L, Akça ÖF, Wall K, Sharp C. Exploring mentalizing in adolescents with anorexia nervosa and borderline personality disorder: A comparative study of psychiatric inpatients and healthy controls. Scand J Child Adolesc Psychiatr Psychol 2021; 9:16-26. [PMID: 33928050 PMCID: PMC8077418 DOI: 10.21307/sjcapp-2021-003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Impaired mentalizing, i.e., difficulties in understanding oneself and others in terms of mental states, has been associated with the development of Anorexia Nervosa (AN), mainly among adults. However, few studies have addressed this question in clinical samples of adolescents with AN. Moreover, no study has explored mentalizing abilities among inpatient adolescents presenting with AN and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), despite their high comorbidity in a highly relevant age group. Objective: This study attempted, for the first time, to further examine differences in mentalizing abilities and to identify specific mentalizing impairments in different psychiatric inpatient groups and healthy adolescents. Methods: Using samples of female adolescents aged 12–17, comparison analyses were performed between psychiatric inpatient adolescents with AN (n = 44), BPD (n = 101), AN+BPD (n = 48), other psychopathology (n = 163) and healthy adolescents (n = 129). Structured and semi-structured clinical interviews, and two experimental tasks were administered to assess AN, BPD and mentalizing, respectively. Results: Comparison analyses showed that patients with BPD and other psychiatric disorders evidenced higher levels of hypermentalizing compared to healthy adolescents. Hypermentalizing was also reported among inpatients with AN+BPD, although to a lesser extent. BPD and AN scores were positively correlated with hypermentalizing responses. Conclusions: Our results suggest that hypermentalizing is a specific mentalization impairment in inpatient adolescents, particularly with BPD and both AN+BPD. Further investigation into the efficacy of mentalization based treatments for adolescents with BPD and AN+BPD is recommended. Prospective studies are needed to assess mentalizing using experimental tasks among adolescents with AN, taking into account the potential influence of temporality and severity of the disorders’ symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Cortés-García
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ömer Faruk Akça
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Necmettin Erbakan University Meram School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
| | - Kiana Wall
- University of Houston, Department of Psychology, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Carla Sharp
- University of Houston, Department of Psychology, Houston, Texas, USA.,University of the Free State, Center for Developmental Support, Bloemfontein, South Africa
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Lyons-Ruth K, Brumariu LE. Emerging child competencies and personality pathology: toward a Developmental Cascade model of BPD. Curr Opin Psychol 2021. [PMID: 32818836 DOI: 10.1016/j.co-psyc.2020.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The guiding principle of this synthesis is to organize research on predictors of BPD features within a developmentally specific framework (e.g. infancy, preschool, middle childhood, adolescence). In addition, studies are prioritized that have longitudinal and observational components. On the basis of current literature, a Developmental Cascade Model of BPD is offered in which specific difficulties during one developmental period contribute to specific difficulties in a succeeding period, resulting in increasingly broad areas of dysregulation over time. Furthermore, to address specificity, we contrast trajectories toward BPD with trajectories toward antisocial behavior, noting shared and divergent predictors. The review highlights the importance of locating research findings in relation to the competencies and challenges of particular developmental periods when modelling developmental trajectories toward BPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karlen Lyons-Ruth
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge Hospital, 1493 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 02139, United States.
| | - Laura E Brumariu
- Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, Adelphi University, 158 Cambridge Ave., Garden City, NY 11530, United States
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Penner F, McLaren V, Leavitt J, Akca OF, Sharp C. Implicit and Explicit Mentalizing Deficits in Adolescent Inpatients: Specificity and Incremental Value of Borderline Pathology. J Pers Disord 2020; 34:64-83. [PMID: 31887101 DOI: 10.1521/pedi_2019_33_463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Research has demonstrated mentalizing impairment associated with borderline personality disorder (BPD) in adolescents. However, mentalizing performance in adolescents with BPD has never been compared to that of psychiatric control and healthy control adolescents simultaneously. The present study aimed to (a) compare implicit and explicit mentalizing, and hypermentalizing errors in implicit mentalizing, across youth with BPD and psychiatric and healthy controls, and (b) evaluate the association of borderline features with mentalizing deficits over and above internalizing and externalizing. Psychiatric inpatients with BPD (n = 139), inpatient psychiatric controls (n = 310), and healthy adolescents (n = 134) completed two mentalizing tasks, an interview assessing BPD, and measures of psychopathology. Results showed that BPD specificity could be demonstrated only for implicit mentalizing and hypermentalizing. Explicit mentalizing deficits did not differ between BPD and psychiatric control groups. Borderline features had unique associations to implicit mentalizing and hypermentalizing, over and above internalizing and externalizing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jacob Leavitt
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Omer Faruk Akca
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Meram School of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Carla Sharp
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas.,Centre for Development Support, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
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Emerging child competencies and personality pathology: toward a Developmental Cascade model of BPD. Curr Opin Psychol 2020; 37:32-38. [PMID: 32818836 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The guiding principle of this synthesis is to organize research on predictors of BPD features within a developmentally specific framework (e.g. infancy, preschool, middle childhood, adolescence). In addition, studies are prioritized that have longitudinal and observational components. On the basis of current literature, a Developmental Cascade Model of BPD is offered in which specific difficulties during one developmental period contribute to specific difficulties in a succeeding period, resulting in increasingly broad areas of dysregulation over time. Furthermore, to address specificity, we contrast trajectories toward BPD with trajectories toward antisocial behavior, noting shared and divergent predictors. The review highlights the importance of locating research findings in relation to the competencies and challenges of particular developmental periods when modelling developmental trajectories toward BPD.
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Guilé JM, Boissel L, Alaux-Cantin S, de La Rivière SG. Borderline personality disorder in adolescents: prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. Adolesc Health Med Ther 2018; 9:199-210. [PMID: 30538595 PMCID: PMC6257363 DOI: 10.2147/ahmt.s156565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Using the same Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth version (DSM-V) criteria as in adults, borderline personality disorder (BPD) in adolescents is defined as a 1-year pattern of immature personality development with disturbances in at least five of the following domains: efforts to avoid abandonment, unstable interpersonal relationships, identity disturbance, impulsivity, suicidal and self-mutilating behaviors, affective instability, chronic feelings of emptiness, inappropriate intense anger, and stress-related paranoid ideation. BPD can be reliably diagnosed in adolescents as young as 11 years. The available epidemiological studies suggest that the prevalence of BPD in the general population of adolescents is around 3%. The clinical prevalence of BPD ranges from 11% in adolescents consulting at an outpatient clinic to 78% in suicidal adolescents attending an emergency department. The diagnostic procedure is based on a clinical assessment with respect to developmental milestones and the interpersonal context. The key diagnostic criterion is the 1-year duration of symptoms. Standardized, clinician-rated instruments are available for guiding this assessment (eg, the Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines-Revised and the Childhood Interview for DSM-IV-TR BPD). The assessment should include an evaluation of the suicidal risk. Differential diagnosis is a particular challenge, given the high frequency of mixed presentations and comorbidities. With respect to clinical and epidemiological studies, externalizing disorders in childhood constitute a risk factor for developing BPD in early adolescence, whereas adolescent depressive disorders are predictive of BPD in adulthood. The treatment of adolescents with BPD requires commitment from the parents, a cohesive medical team, and a coherent treatment schedule. With regard to evidence-based medicine, psychopharmacological treatment is not recommended and, if ultimately required, should be limited to second-generation antipsychotics. Supportive psychotherapy is the most commonly available first-line treatment. Randomized controlled trials have provided evidence in favor of the use of specific, manualized psychotherapies (dialectic-behavioral therapy, cognitive analytic therapy, and mentalization-based therapy).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Marc Guilé
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Services, Amiens-Picardie University Medical Centre, Amiens, France,
- Psychiatry Residency Program, University of Picardie-Jules Verne, Amiens, France,
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada,
| | - Laure Boissel
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Services, Amiens-Picardie University Medical Centre, Amiens, France,
- Psychiatry Residency Program, University of Picardie-Jules Verne, Amiens, France,
| | - Stéphanie Alaux-Cantin
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Services, Amiens-Picardie University Medical Centre, Amiens, France,
- Psychiatry Residency Program, University of Picardie-Jules Verne, Amiens, France,
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