Borderline personality disorder and multiple aspects of emotional intelligence.

According to Linehan (1993) the central characteristic of patients with a
borderline personality disorder is an emotionregulation disorder. In this study
we will investigate the emotionregulation disorder by using a test for
emotional intelligence (EI) and a test that measures the perception of
emotions. Untill now there is only one study known that investigated the
relationship between EI and borderline personality disorder (Leible & Snell,
2004). This study found that people with borderline personality disorder have a
lower EI-score than people with other personality disorders. Secondly, the
study found a negative relation between severity of the borderline disorder and
EI. The current study investigates the relation between EI and borderline
disorder, comparing it with other personality disorders en healthy subjects.

Aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between Emotional
Intelligence and the severity index of the borderline personality disorder.
Secondly, the study will investigate what differences there are in EI between
patienst with borderline disorder en two control groups (patients with other
personality disorders en non-patients). If it is true that patients with a
borderline personality disorder have problems with their emotionregulation,
more than patients with another personality disorder, we want to see these
differences in the EI-scores (especially the score on the subscale managing
emotions). Emotional Intelligence is measered with an ability test, the MSCEIT
(Mayer, Salovey, and Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test; Mayer, Salovey, &
Caruso, 2001). The MSCEIT has proven to have a better validity than self-report
EI tests as used in the study of Leible & Snell, 2004. The IAPS (International
Affective Picture System; Bradley & Lang, 1999) will be used to measure
perception of emotions.

The study is based on a correlational research and ANOVA's. Furthermore we want
to compare three groups on the EI-scores and IAPS-scores. Patients with a
borderline personality disorder, patients with other personality disorders and
healty subjects.

Research questions:
1. Is there a negative relation between EI and severity of the borderline
personality disorder?
2. What are the differences in EI and perception of emotions between patients
with borderline disorder and controls (patients with other personality
disorders and healthy subjects)?

It takes about 2 hours in total to do the tests.
Confrontation with own problems could be a burden to participants. It is
however expected that participants will experience the acquired knowledge about
themselves rather as positive.