EXPERIMENTAL PROOF OF AFFECT DYSREGULATIO N IN PATIENTS WITH SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR

According to DSM-IV affective instability in borderline personality di sorder is due to marked reactions to environmental events. The aim of this study was to investigate affective responsiveness of abnormal per sonalities with self-harming impulsive behaviors by means of an affect -stimulation design. The first experiment was based on the presentatio n of a short story that allowed affective responses to various stimuli to be assessed in regard to quality, intensity, and alterations over time. The second one presented a typical frustration design, which pro voked specific feelings of anger and disappointment. Impulsive persona lities showed an affective hyperreactivity that was characterized by a decreased threshold for affective responses, as well as by intensive, rapidly changing affects. Furthermore, affect experiences turned out to be qualitatively diffuse and undifferentiated. Results support that affective instability of patients with borderline personality disorde r should be differentiated from the autonomous deviations of mood typi cal of affective disorders. Their affective hyperreactivity is a cruci al part of impulsive personality functioning.