Dysfunctional affect regulation in borderline personality disorder and in somatoform disorder

Figures & data

Fig. 1 Conceptual framework for insecure attachment system by Mikulincer & Shaver.

Table 1 Demographic characteristics of the study groups and the total sample

	BPD	SoD	BPD+SoD	PC	Total sample
N =	120	159	129	64	472
Male	40	47	30	28	145
Female	80	112	99	36	327
Age M (SD)	29.9 (8.8)	38.3 (10.5)	33.6 (9.1)	36.8 (9.9)	34.7 (10.1)
Social N	30.8%	45.3%	40.3%	28.1%	37.9%
T	60.8	41.5	47.3	56.3	50.0
S	8.3	13.2	12.4	15.6	12.1
Educ L	24.2%	22.6%	27.1%	23.4%	24.4%
M	35.8	45.9	37.2	46.9	41.1
H	40	31.4	35.7	29.7	34.5

Note: BPD, borderline personality disorder; SoD, somatoform disorder; BPD+SoD, borderline personality disorder and somatoform disorder; PC, psychiatric comparison group; Social, primary relationship status; N, no primary partner; T, living together; S, separated by death or divorce; Educ, highest level of education attained; L, primary and low-level secondary education; M, middle level secondary education; H, high-level secondary education.

Fig.2 Dysfunctional regulation operating in vicious cycles.

Note: A=affect; S=soma; C=cognition; I=interaction; R=reflective function; ED=exec dysfunction; B=behavior; PF=psycho-physiological.