Cycle 6 - Flashcard Set 3
What is mentalization and how is it often misunderstood?
Mentalization is the ability to understand one’s own thoughts and feelings, as well as those of others. It is often misunderstood and taken for granted as an ordinary quality.
How do individuals with borderline personality disorder struggle with mentalization?
Individuals with borderline personality disorder struggle to mentalize and lack awareness of their own thoughts and feelings, leading to isolation and misunderstanding.
What happens to an individual’s ability to judge how others might feel in attachment relationships?
In attachment relationships, individuals with borderline personality disorder lose the ability to judge how others might feel and perceive signals as devastating when others would not notice them.
What is the role of language in mentalization?
Mentalization is mediated by a language for thoughts and feelings, allowing for second-order representation.
What happens when an individual loses mentalizing capacity?
When an individual loses mentalizing capacity, primary subjective states are felt immediately without moderation, leading to desperate actions to protect oneself but also a loss of the capacity to know why those actions were taken.
How can therapy help individuals with borderline personality disorder?
Therapy can help build resilience and understanding of oneself and others by expressing a genuine interest in someone’s subjective state and contributing to the development of mentalization capacity.
What percentage of the US population is affected by borderline personality disorder?
Borderline personality disorder affects approximately 1.6% of the US population.
Is borderline personality disorder diagnosed more frequently in women or men?
Borderline personality disorder is diagnosed more frequently in women than men.
What other mental health conditions is borderline personality disorder often comorbid with?
Borderline personality disorder is often comorbid with other mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety.
What are the common treatments for borderline personality disorder?
Treatment for borderline personality disorder often involves therapy, medication, and support groups.
What is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and how does it work?
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a commonly used therapy for borderline personality disorder that focuses on teaching skills to help manage emotions, cope with stress, and improve relationships.
How does the lack of mentalization capacity affect an individual’s actions and understanding of those actions?
Losing mentalizing leads to desperate actions to protect oneself, but also a loss of the capacity to know why those actions were taken.
