Chapter 4 114 Abstract Introduction: Tentative explanatory models of borderline personality pathology (BPP) accredit alexithymia a key role in increasing psychological dysfunction and detrimental behaviours that covary with higher levels of BPP. It is assumed that due to alexithymia, patients with high BPP are more prone to experience dysphoric, depressive symptoms, dissociative experiences, and to engage in self-injurious behaviours. However, little empirical evidence exists that validates this assumption. We explored these interrelationships in a sample of psychiatric patients and tested the assumed explanatory model on the role of alexithymia in BPP. Method: Cross-sectional study in a population of adult psychiatric in- and outpatients who were in voluntary treatment for one or more psychological disorders. 71 patients (range = 18 – 59 years of age, M = 36.04 SD= 11.35, 76,7% female) completed all measures. Participants completed questionnaires on BPP, alexithymia, depression severity, dissociative experiences and direct and indirect SIB, and a clinical interview on alexithymia. Results: Spearman rank correlations confirmed associations of BPP and alexithymia with depressive symptoms and dissociative experiences, and some but not all aspects of self-injurious behaviours. However, alexithymia was not found to be a mediator in the relationship between BPP and dissociative experiences, nor any form of self-injurious behaviour. A significant indirect effect of BPP on depressive symptoms via alexithymia was found, supporting the hypothesis that alexithymia partially mediates the effect of BPP on depressive symptoms. Conclusions: The results of this explorative study confirm previously established relationships of BPP with alexithymia, depressive symptoms, dissociative experiences and self-injurious behaviours in a clinical population. They also confirm associations of alexithymia with depressive symptoms and dissociative experiences. They however failed to confirm a solid relationship of alexithymia with self-injurious behaviours. There was only limited support for the explanatory model in which alexithymia acts as transmission mechanism between BPP and other variables. Besides statistical support for partial mediation by alexithymia in the relationship between BPP and depressive symptomatology, the study showed no proof of mediation by alexithymia. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjY0ODMw