Unoka Z, et al. – In the study presented here, levels of early maladaptive schemas, self–reported shame, and anxious or angry reactions to social put–downs as well as their associations were examined. The outcomes of this investigation revealed that chronic shame and anxious and angry reactions to social put–downs were prominent in patients with borderline personality disorder and were related to specific early maladaptive schemas (EMS) domains and with the symptoms of identity disturbance and stormy relationships.

Methods

• For this research, 56 patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) completed self-report measures of EMSs, chronic shame, and reactions to put-downs.
• Comparison groups consisted of twenty-four patients without personality disorder (non-PD) and eighty healthy controls (HC).

Results

• The results of this study showed that patients with BPD reported higher levels of EMSs, characterological, behavioral and bodily shame, and were more prone to react with anxiety and anger than non-PD patients and HC subjects.
• It was observed in the findings that EMSs domains had specific relationship with chronic shame and reaction types to social put-downs.
• Findings revealed that identity disturbances were related to characterological, behavioral and bodily shame.
• It was noted that stormy relationships were related to bodily shame.