An ecological momentary assessment investigation of complex and conflicting emotions in youth with borderline personality disorder. (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Andrewes, Holly E.; Hulbert, Carol; Cotton, Susan M.; Betts, Jennifer; Chanen, Andrew M.
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 252(2017)
• Page Start: 102
• Page End: 110
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: Borderline personality disorder -- Emotional acceptance -- Non-suicidal self-injury -- Youth -- Psychiatry; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.01.100
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Abstract: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a prevalent behaviour among people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) but many aspects of the emotional changes that trigger and maintain this behaviour are unknown. This study examines the relationships between NSSI and the number of negative ('negative complex') and opposing valence ('conflicting') emotions. One hundred and seven youth (aged 15–25 years) with first-presentation BPD were assessed using a combination of self-report and ecological momentary assessment to investigate trait levels of emotional acceptance and in vivo changes in the number of negative complex and conflicting emotions before and after self-injurious thoughts and behaviours. Multilevel modelling revealed that changes in the number of negative complex emotions mirrored distress levels before and after self-injurious thoughts and behaviours, approximating a quadratic curve. Increases in the number of negative complex emotions reported prior to self-injurious thoughts and behaviours were associated with lower acceptance of negative emotions. These findings indicate that the number of negative emotions experienced contributes to distress prior to engagement in NSSI. The relationship between non-acceptance of negative emotions and negative complex emotions prior to NSSI suggests that improved emotional awareness and acceptance should be a focus for early interventions aimed at reducing self-injury. Highlights: The intensity of distress increased before non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and reduced following. The same pattern of changes occurred for the number of negative complex emotions before and after NSSI. Lower emotional acceptance was related to an increased number of negative complex emotions prior to NSSI.