Do Deficits in Mindfulness Underlie Borderline Personality Features and Core Difficulties?

Abstract

The current study investigated whether deficits in mindfulness (the awareness, attention, and acceptance of the present moment) can account for variability in borderline personality (BPD) features and characteristic difficulties in emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and impulsivity. Structural equation modeling and hierarchical regressions were utilized to examine the associations of trait mindfulness with BPD features, interpersonal problem-solving, impulsive and passive emotion-regulation strategies, and neuroticism in a sample of young adults (N = 342). As hypothesized, mindfulness was related inversely to BPD features and core areas of difficulty, and these associations continued even when controlling for neuroticism. Additionally, mindfulness deficits continued to predict borderline features even when interpersonal effectiveness, passive and impulsive emotion-regulation, and neuroticism were controlled. It is concluded that deficits in mindfulness may be integral to BPD features. Difficulties with attention, awareness, and acceptance of internal and external experience appear to explain borderline pathology even when controlling for problems with negative affectivity, behavioral dyscontrol, and emotional and interpersonal dysfunction--which have been described as definitional of this disorder. Thus, attention to mindfulness deficits may enhance clinical formulation of BPD symptomatology, as well as provide a vital component of effective BPD treatment.

Mindfulness and modification therapy for behavioral dysregulation: results from a pilot study targeting alcohol use and aggression in women

“…In addition, increased mindfulness predicts decreases in the reported use of dysregulated behaviors in attempts to modify emotions elicited by distressing situations (Wupperman, Neumann, & Axelrod, 2008;Wupperman, Neumann, Whitman, & Axelrod, 2009); this relationship is found in both clinical and community samples. Finally, mindfulness is inversely correlated with interpersonal conflict and negative emotions (Barnes, Brown, Krusemark, Campbell, & Rogge, 2007;Brown & Ryan), which are risk factors for a range of dysregulated behaviors (Anestis et al, 2010;Brown, Linehan, Comtois, Murray, & Chapman, 2009;Chen, Brown, Harned, & Linehan, 2009).…”

A Preliminary Investigation of the Relationships Between Dispositional Mindfulness and Impulsivity

“…Wupperman et al (2008) found that in social problem-solving situations, a composite variable of passive and impulsive emotion regulation styles was negatively associated with mindfulness in a non-clinical population. However, no research to date has directly examined the relationship between selfreported mindfulness and trait-level impulsivity.…”

Reduced neural differentiation between self-referential cognitive and emotional processes in women with borderline personality disorder

“…Evidence suggests that low abilities in mindfulness may account for BPD-specific problems in emotion regulation, interpersonal function, and impulsivity (e.g., Wupperman et al, 2008;Wupperman et al, 2009;Fossati et al, 2011). In a preliminary study examining the mediating effect of mindfulness on BPD symptoms, Wuppermann and colleagues (2013) suggested that typical dysregulated behaviors observed in BPD --for instance, self-injury, substance abuse, suicide attempts, or physical aggression (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) --were associated with a low level of mindfulness (Wupperman et al, 2013).…”