
Self-punishment as a regulation strategy in borderline personality disorder.
Studies using the Thought Control Questionnaire (TCQ; Wells & Davies, 1994) suggest that the tendency to use self-punishment (e.g., shouting at oneself) in order to control unpleasant internal experiences (e.g., cognitive and emotional) is associated with psychopathology. To evaluate the role of self-punishment in borderline personality disorder (BPD), we first examined whether TCQ scales, including Self-Punishment, were different among adults with BPD (n = 31) when compared to those with other personality disorders (OPD; n = 24), elevated symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD; n = 24), and healthy controls (n = 105). Findings indicated that Self-Punishment was elevated in the BPD group relative to other groups. Next, Self-Punishment was examined as a potential mediator in the relationship between negative affectivity and BPD symptom severity in all participants. Results indicated that Self-Punishment did not mediate this relationship, but did account for significant variance in BPD symptoms over and above negative affectivity. Implications and future research directions are discussed.
Duke Scholars
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- Thinking
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- Social Control, Informal
- Punishment
- Psychiatry
- Middle Aged
- Male
- Humans
- Female
- Depressive Disorder, Major
Citation

Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Thinking
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- Social Control, Informal
- Punishment
- Psychiatry
- Middle Aged
- Male
- Humans
- Female
- Depressive Disorder, Major