Emotional switching in borderline personality disorder: A daily life study.

• DOI: 10.1037/per0000126
• Publication Date: 2015-06-22T16:47:21Z
• Authors: Marlies Houben; Kristof Vansteelandt; Laurence Claes; Pascal Sienaert; Ann Berens; Ellen Sleuwaegen; Peter Kuppens
• Keywords: Emotional disorder; Experience sampling method; Emotional dysregulation; Affect

Despite large efforts to understand emotional instability in borderline personality disorder (BPD), it is still unclear exactly how this manifested the daily lives of people suffering from disorder. Building on theoretical and clinical observations BPD, we propose that BPD particularly consists occurrence strong changes between positive negative states 1 moment next, labeled switching. We tested proposal by means an experience sampling study which 30 patients 28 healthy controls reported their level pleasantness/unpleasantness 10 times a day for 8 consecutive days using handheld palmtops. Results showed although did not differ regarding overall tendency switch state or vice versa, size such was found be significantly larger patients. In contrast, magnitude remained within range compared with participants. These findings imply characterized rather than intensity, providing insight into possible processes underlying emotion dysfunction BPD.