An investigation of the mediating factors in the relationship between early childhood adversity and borderline personality characteristics in forensic inpatients
| Pages | 17-30 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-02-2015-0016 |
| Published date | 08 February 2016 |
| Date | 08 February 2016 |
| Author | Helena Varnaseri,Tony Lavender,Lona Lockerbie |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Forensic practice |
An investigation of the mediating factors
in the relationship between early childhood
adversity and borderline personality
characteristics in forensic inpatients
Helena Varnaseri, Tony Lavender and Lona Lockerbie
Helena Varnaseri and Professor
Tony Lavender, both are based
at Salomons Centre for Applied
Psychology, Canterbury Christ
Church University, Tunbridge
Wells, UK.
Dr Lona Lockerbie is based at
Kent ForensicPsychiatry
Service,Kent and Medway NHS
and Social Care Partnership
Trust, Maidstone, UK.
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether early maladaptive schema (EMS) and
autobiographical memory specificity mediate the relationship between abuse and attachment in childhood
with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) characteristics among forensic inpatients.
Design/methodology/approach –The study adopted a quantitative cross-sectional design. In total,
34 male adults residing in medium secure facilities completed self-report measures. Data were analysed
using bootstrapped mediation procedures.
Findings –The study’s hypotheses received partial support. The EMS of “entitlement/grandiosity”and
autobiographical memory specificity differentially mediated the relationship between emotional and physical
abuse and neglect, and parental care and overprotection with BPD characteristics, including trait anger and
the frequent expression of anger. In line with attachment theory and the functional avoidance mechanism
(Williams et al., 2007), the proposed mediators are conceptualised as adaptive responses to early adversity
with potential maladaptive consequences for later interpersonal functioning.
Research limitations/implications –These provisional findings will require further exploration with specific
investigation of the relationship between EMS and autobiographical memory specificity. It is recommended
that future research replicates the study’s design with a larger sample and investigate the role of
other mediators and moderators in this complex relationship. Examples of these are mentalisation,
social problem-solving capabilities, social support and adult attachment styles.
Practical implications –Clinical implications encourage the incorporation of these mediators into clinical
formulation, intervention and ward practices.
Originality/value –For forensic inpatients with a history of adversity, interventions working directly with
EMS and specificity of autobiographical memory, e.g. schema therapy (Young, 1999), mentalisation and
mindfulness may be useful. Furthermore, the relationship between EMS and specificity of autobiographical
memory with interpersonal experience and functioning can be incorporated into clinical formulation.
Keywords Attachment, Borderline personality disorder, Adversity, Autobiographical memory,
Early maladaptive schema, Forensic inpatients
Paper type Research paper
Diagnoses of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) are highly prevalent among forensic
inpatients. BPD is characterised by three pervasive features evident from early adulthood:
first, patterns of unstable interpersonal relationships are associated with desperate efforts to
avoid real or imagined abandonment from others (First and Tasman, 2004). Second, a sense
of impending separation or rejection is associated with affective instability and impulsive
behaviours. Indicators of these are erratic mood and episodes of intense anger that are difficult to
Received 12 February 2015
Revised 5 May 2015
Accepted 6 May 2015
The corresponding author would
like to acknowledge the two NHS
Trusts who approved the study
and Dr Sabina Hulbert of
Canterbury Christ Church
University for statistical advice.
Funding for this study was
provided by Canterbury Christ
Church University as part of the
corresponding author’s thesis for
D.Clin.Psychol. qualification.
All authors declare no financial
interest in any aspect of the
submitted work and no competing
interests.
DOI 10.1108/JFP-02-2015-0016 VOL. 18 NO. 1 2016, pp. 17-30, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8794
j
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PRACTICE
j
PAG E 17
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