Theory of Mind in Borderline Personality Disorder: A Possible Endophenotypic Factor?

Esther Ortega-Díaz, Jonatan García-Campos, Alejandro Moya-Martínez, Clara Ramírez-Cremades, José M. Rico-Gomis, Carlos Cuesta-Moreno, Antonio Palazón-Bru, Gabriel Estan-Cerezo, José A. Piqueras and Jesús Rodríguez-Marín
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Esther Ortega-Díaz: Department of Psychiatry, General University Hospital of Elche, 03203 Elche, Spain
Jonatan García-Campos: Department of Behavioral and Health Sciences, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, San Juan de Alicante, 03202 Elche, Spain
Alejandro Moya-Martínez: Biostatistics Unit, General University Hospital of Elche, Elche-FISABIO, 03203 Elche, Spain
Clara Ramírez-Cremades: Department of Psychiatry, General University Hospital of Elche, 03203 Elche, Spain
José M. Rico-Gomis: Department of Psychiatry, General University Hospital of Elche, 03203 Elche, Spain
Carlos Cuesta-Moreno: Department of Psychiatry, General University Hospital of Elche, 03203 Elche, Spain
Antonio Palazón-Bru: Department of Clinical Medicine, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, San Juan de Alicante, 03202 Elche, Spain
Gabriel Estan-Cerezo: Department of Investigation, General University Hospital of Elche, Elche-FISABIO, 03203 Elche, Spain
José A. Piqueras: Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, Campus of San Juan de Alicante, Miguel Hernandez University (UMH), 03202 Elche, Spain
Jesús Rodríguez-Marín: Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, Campus of San Juan de Alicante, Miguel Hernandez University (UMH), 03202 Elche, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-12

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine whether theory of mind (ToM) is an endophenotypic marker of borderline personality disorder (BPD), thus constituting an etiopathogenic factor of the disease. This would suggest familial vulnerability to BPD. This was a case-control study involving 146 individuals with 57 BPD patients, 32 first-degree relatives, and 57 controls (median age of BPD and control = 33.4 years; relatives = 52.9 years; BPD females and controls = 91.2%; female relatives = 62.5%). All the participants completed the Spanish version of the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition test to evaluate the ToM subclassification: interpretation of emotions, thoughts and intentions. BPD patients and their healthy first-degree relatives exhibited significant deficits in the correct interpretation of emotions and intentions compared to healthy controls. Both patients with BPD and their healthy first-degree relatives exhibited significant deficits in ToM, which suggests that it may be an etiopathogenic factor of BPD, and ToM (interpretation of emotions, thoughts and intentions) is a possible endophenotypic marker of BPD, suggesting a genetic predisposition to the disorder. Therefore, ToM could be considered as an indicator for the early detection of the disorder of and intervention for BPD.

Keywords: borderline personality disorder; theory of mind; mentalization; family; endophenotypic marker (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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