Citation

Ducasse D, Van Gordon W, Brand-Arpon V, Courtet P, Olié E. Eur. Arch. Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci. 2020; 270(8): 941-945.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00406-019-01029-6

PMID

31165236

Abstract

Bypassing a reductionist view of existing diagnostic categories, ontological addiction theory (OAT) is a new psychological model of human functioning. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), defined as "a pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image and affects, and marked impulsivity", is not only common (up to 20% of psychiatric inpatients), but also strongly associated with suicide attempts and death by suicide. Therefore, BPD constitutes a major public health concern. As a consequence of an underlying condition of ontological addiction, self-harming behaviors can be conceptualized as addictions, suicidal acts reflecting an experiential avoidance strategy against unbearable psychological pain. The present paper aims at: (1) understanding BPD daily life experiences from the perspective of OAT; (2) offering psychotherapeutic perspectives for this mental disorder. The diagnostic category of BDP may be understood as a simple label reflecting several extreme types of manifestations resulting from the Self-grasping ignorance that underpins ontological addiction. Therefore, development of psychotherapeutic interventions targeting ontological addiction appears to be a promising future direction.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Self Concept; Borderline personality disorder; Interpersonal Relations; Psychotherapy; Affective disorder; Object Attachment; Borderline Personality Disorder; Behavior, Addictive; Dimension; Ontological addiction