The relationship between perceived stress, dissociative experiences, depressive symptoms, and anxiety sensitivity in borderline personality disorder

Özet

ABSTRACT Objective: Borderline personality disorder is characterized by impulsive behaviors, inconsistency in interpersonal relationships, and difficulty in regulating feelings and thoughts. In these patients, dissociative symptoms, defined as impaired consciousness, memory, and integrity of perception, are often observed and negatively affect the prognosis. This study aims to demonstrate the mediating effects of depressive symptoms and anxiety sensitivity between perceived stress and dissociative experiences in patients with borderline personality disorder. Method: Seventy-four patients with borderline personality disorder according to the DSM-5 criteria and 70 healthy controls with no psychiatric disorders were included in the study. A sociodemographic data form, the Beck Depression Inventory, Dissociative Experiences Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and Anxiety Sensitivity Index were used for data collection. Results: The total score and physical, cognitive, and social subscores of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index and the total scores of Dissociative Experiences Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Perceived Stress Scale were higher in the patient group than the control group. There was a positive and statistically significant correlation between anxiety sensitivity, dissociative experiences, depressive symptoms, and perceived stress scores in the patient group. Depressive symptoms and anxiety sensitivity had partial mediating effects in the relationship between perceived stress and dissociative experiences. Conclusion: Dissociative symptoms lead to worsening of the course of borderline personality disorder. Our study revealed a significant relationship of perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety sensitivity with dissociative experiences. Therapeutic interventions for anxiety sensitivity and depressive symptoms would be beneficial regarding the prognosis of borderline personality disorder by preventing or reducing the severity of dissociative experiences.