title: An empirical examination of soothing tactics in borderline personality disorder.
abstract: Little empirical information is available regarding the process of self-soothing in borderline individuals, as well as in normal subjects. This study examined the frequency of used of soothing "things," soothing "behaviors," and soothing "psychological activities" in three groups: borderline personality disorder, major depressive disorder without concurrent personality disorder, and college students. Results indicated that: (1) borderline individuals reported using soothing things at comparable levels to the other two groups; (2) borderline subjects and those with major depressive disorders used more adaptive soothing behaviors than did college students; (3) borderline subjects used more maladaptive soothing behaviors than the other two groups; and (4) borderline individuals used psychologically soothing activities at frequencies comparable to the other two groups. These results are intended to begin the process of developing a soothing profile for individuals with borderline personality disorder.
authors.affiliation: Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital, Tulsa, OK.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sansone
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fine
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Mulderig
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001143:Arousal; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D010556:Personality Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*