Theory of mind and its relationship with executive functions and emotion recognition in borderline personality disorder

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Baez ◽  
Juan Marengo ◽  
Ana Perez ◽  
David Huepe ◽  
Fernanda Giralt Font ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Borderline Personality Disorder ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Emotion Recognition ◽  
Borderline Personality

A meta-analysis of theory of mind and ‘mentalization’ in borderline personality disorder: a true neuro-social-cognitive or meta-social-cognitive impairment?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Emre Bora
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Borderline Personality Disorder ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Cognitive Style ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Borderline Personality ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Meta Analyses

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.

Negative bias in fast emotion discrimination in borderline personality disorder

2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 855-864 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Dyck ◽  
U. Habel ◽  
J. Slodczyk ◽  
J. Schlummer ◽  
V. Backes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Borderline Personality Disorder ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Emotion Recognition ◽  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Borderline Personality ◽  
Negative Bias ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
Direct Discrimination

BackgroundThe ability to decode emotional information from facial expressions is crucial for successful social interaction. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by serious problems in interpersonal relationships and emotional functioning. Empirical research on facial emotion recognition in BPD has been sparsely published and results are inconsistent. To specify emotion recognition deficits in BPD more closely, the present study implemented two emotion recognition tasks differing in response format.MethodNineteen patients with BPD and 19 healthy subjects were asked to evaluate the emotional content of visually presented stimuli (emotional and neutral faces). The first task, the Fear Anger Neutral (FAN) Test, required a rapid discrimination between negative or neutral facial expressions whereas in the second task, the Emotion Recognition (ER) Test, a precise decision regarding default emotions (sadness, happiness, anger, fear and neutral) had to be achieved without a time limit.ResultsIn comparison to healthy subjects, BPD patients showed a deficit in emotion recognition only in the fast discrimination of negative and neutral facial expressions (FAN Test). Consistent with earlier findings, patients demonstrated a negative bias in the evaluation of neutral facial expressions. When processing time was unlimited (ER Test), BPD patients performed as well as healthy subjects in the recognition of specific emotions. In addition, an association between performance in the fast discrimination task (FAN Test) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) co-morbidity was indicated.ConclusionsOur data suggest a selective deficit of BPD patients in rapid and direct discrimination of negative and neutral emotional expressions that may underlie difficulties in social interactions.

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