Assessment of Sense of Identity in Patients Diagnosed With Borderline Personality Disorder. A Pilot Study

NCT ID: NCT04948905

Last Updated: 2023-01-04

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 60 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-03-01
• Study Completion Date: 2022-07-31

Brief Summary

One of the key features and long considered a fundamental element of Borderline Personality Disorder is the disruption of identity. Autobiographical memory is closely linked to the development and maintenance of a coherent, stable sense of self. It enables the individual to understand who he or she is. The investigators hypothesize that individuals diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder have a less coherent, stable sense of the self than healthy controls. The aim of the study is therefore to compare the sense of identity between a group of patients diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and a group of healthy individuals (without Borderline Personality Disorder ).

This can be measured by evaluating the content of the self-defining memory using the Self-Defining Memory scale.

Conditions

Borderline Personality Disorder

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: CASE_CONTROL
• Study Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

Patients diagnosed as having Borderline Personality Disorder

These patients have been diagnosed as having Borderline Personality Disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV classification after taking the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders test.

Evaluation using the Self-Defining Memory Questionnaire

Intervention Type: OTHER

This questionnaire consists of 3 pages. Page 1 gives a clear, concise definition of a memory that defines the self. This enlightens the subject on what is expected and helps him/her consider the phenomenological characteristics of the Self-Defining Memory. Page 2 recalls the 6 essential characteristics of the Self-Defining Memory. Page 3 allows the practical application of what has been understood about the questionnaire. At least 3 memories are asked of the participants. Each memory is rated as follows : On a scale of 0 - 6 for each of the following emotions, participants note how they feel when recalling each memory. Happy, Sad, Angry, Fearful, Surprised, Ashamed,Disgusted,Guilty, Interested, Embarrassed, Contemptful, Proud. 0 = not at all, 3 = Moderately and 6 = Extremely.

Participants must then use the same scale to indicate the vividness and importance of the memory.

They must also note the approximate number of years ago the memory took place (to the nearest whole number).

Healthy Controls (Patients not diagnosed as having Borderline Personality Disorder )

These patients have NOT been diagnosed as having Borderline Personality Disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV classification after taking the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders test.

Evaluation using the Self-Defining Memory Questionnaire

Intervention Type: OTHER

This questionnaire consists of 3 pages. Page 1 gives a clear, concise definition of a memory that defines the self. This enlightens the subject on what is expected and helps him/her consider the phenomenological characteristics of the Self-Defining Memory. Page 2 recalls the 6 essential characteristics of the Self-Defining Memory. Page 3 allows the practical application of what has been understood about the questionnaire. At least 3 memories are asked of the participants. Each memory is rated as follows : On a scale of 0 - 6 for each of the following emotions, participants note how they feel when recalling each memory. Happy, Sad, Angry, Fearful, Surprised, Ashamed,Disgusted,Guilty, Interested, Embarrassed, Contemptful, Proud. 0 = not at all, 3 = Moderately and 6 = Extremely.

Participants must then use the same scale to indicate the vividness and importance of the memory.

They must also note the approximate number of years ago the memory took place (to the nearest whole number).

Interventions

Evaluation using the Self-Defining Memory Questionnaire

This questionnaire consists of 3 pages. Page 1 gives a clear, concise definition of a memory that defines the self. This enlightens the subject on what is expected and helps him/her consider the phenomenological characteristics of the Self-Defining Memory. Page 2 recalls the 6 essential characteristics of the Self-Defining Memory. Page 3 allows the practical application of what has been understood about the questionnaire. At least 3 memories are asked of the participants. Each memory is rated as follows : On a scale of 0 - 6 for each of the following emotions, participants note how they feel when recalling each memory. Happy, Sad, Angry, Fearful, Surprised, Ashamed,Disgusted,Guilty, Interested, Embarrassed, Contemptful, Proud. 0 = not at all, 3 = Moderately and 6 = Extremely.

Participants must then use the same scale to indicate the vividness and importance of the memory.

They must also note the approximate number of years ago the memory took place (to the nearest whole number).

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Subject must have given written consent
• Subject affiliated or beneficiary of a health insurance plan.
• Adult subjects between 25 and 55 years of age
• Oral and written mastery of the French language

• Subject diagnosed as having borderline personality disorder according to the DSM IV classification

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients without diagnosis of borderline personality disorder according to the DSM IV classification after taking the SCID II (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Axis II Disorders) test

• Subjects considered Borderline after taking the SCID II (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Axis II Disorders) test
• Subjects with a score above 8 on the HADS questionnaire corresponding to questionable symptomatology for anxiety and depressive symptoms.

• Subjects under court protection, guardianship or curatorship
• Subjects for whom it is impossible to give informed information
• Subjects participating in a Category 1 or 2 RIPH in the 3 months prior to the study
• Subject refusing to give written consent
• Presence of known neurological disease
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women

• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nīmes

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Jorge LOPEZ-CASTROMAN, Prof.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Psychiatric Unit, Nîmes University Hospital, France

Stéphane RAFFARD, Prof.

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Montpellier University III, Laboratoire Epsylon, Route de Mende, 34090 Montpellier, France

Locations

Nîmes University Hospital

Nîmes, Gard, France

Countries

France

References

Moffitt KH, Singer JA. Continuity in the Life Story: Self-Defining Memories, Affect, and Approach/Avoidance Personal Strivings. Journal of Personality.1994; 62(1), 21-43

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Singer, J. A., & Moffitt, K. H. An experimental investigation of specificity and generality in memory narratives. Imagination, Cognition and Personality. PsycINFO Database Record (1991-1992)11(3), 233-257.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Bluck S, Alea N. Crafting the TALE: construction of a measure to assess the functions of autobiographical remembering. Memory. 2011 Jul;19(5):470-86. doi: 10.1080/09658211.2011.590500.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 21864212 (View on PubMed)

Johnson MK, Foley MA, Suengas AG, Raye CL. Phenomenal characteristics of memories for perceived and imagined autobiographical events. J Exp Psychol Gen. 1988 Dec;117(4):371-6.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 2974863 (View on PubMed)

Bernstein, D. P., Fink, L., Handelsman, L., & Foote, J. Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) [Database record].(1994) APA PsycTests. https://doi.org/10.1037/t02080-000

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Spitzer, Robert L, Williams Janet BW, Gibbon Miriam, First Michael B, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Axis II Disorders,(SCID-II), Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Press, Inc., 1990

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Other Identifiers

2020-A03352-37

Identifier Type: REGISTRY

Identifier Source: secondary_id

Local/2021/AS-01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id