title: An exploratory study of the relationship between changes in emotion and cognitive processes and treatment outcome in borderline personality disorder.
abstract: This exploratory study examined specific emotion processes and cognitive problem-solving processes in individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD), and assessed the relationship of these changes to treatment outcome. Emotion and cognitive problem-solving processes were assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Linguistic Inquiry Word Count, the Derogatis Affect Balance Scale, and the Problem Solving Inventory. Participants who showed greater improvements in affect balance, problem solving, and the ability to identify and describe emotions showed greater improvements on treatment outcome, with affect balance remaining statistically significant under the most conservative conditions. The results provide preliminary evidence to support the theory that specific improvements in emotion and cognitive processes are associated with positive treatment outcomes (symptom distress, interpersonal functioning) in BPD. The implications for treatment are discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Borderline Personality Disorder Service , Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McMain
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Links
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guimond
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wnuk
authors.forename: Rahel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eynan
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bergmans
authors.forename: Serine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Warwar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D064889:Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic / Q000379:methods; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult