Borderline Personality Disorder Attachment Theory Clinical Psychology
Abstract:
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a highly damaging and lethal disorder that has increasingly received research attention. BPD is characterized by impulsivity, unstable relationships, and suicidality. One lens through which researchers have investigated BPD is attachment theory. Attachment theory posits that one’s early childhood interactions with a caregiver influences how we create and maintain relationships in adulthood. The manner in which we interact is deemed an attachment style. Individuals with BPD often display insecure attachment styles, signifying that the way in which they form and preserve interpersonal relationships with others is often more turbulent than for the general population. Many studies have explored relations between attachment styles and BPD but have found mixed results. No study has looked at all nine BPD criteria, as defined by the DSM-5, and their individual relations to attachment patterns. In this study, we aim to clarify the relation between adult attachment style and the nine BPD criteria, as measured by interviewers and via self-report, to advance both theoretical and clinical knowledge regarding the development and treatment of BPD.
