Pogue, Samantha; (2021) ‘An Emptiness of Connections’: The Experience of Loneliness in people with Borderline Personality Disorder, both Before and During the Coronavirus Pandemic. Doctoral thesis (D.Clin.Psy), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

Introduction: People with borderline personality disorder (BPD) report higher levels of loneliness than the general population (Liebke et al., 2017), yet little is understood about how they experience loneliness or what helps them to feel more connected to others. Aims: This qualitative study explores the experience of loneliness in people with BPD both before and during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: Twenty participants, who self-reported that they had received a diagnosis of BPD, were recruited via social media and interviewed using a semi-structured interview. Data was analysed using a framework analysis approach. Results: Eight main themes were identified that described elements of participants’ experience of loneliness, both before and during COVID-19. Participants described loneliness as a challenging experience which involved balancing the fears and cravings of connection with others. The pandemic reduced access to coping strategies and reinforced anxieties about the self and others. Conclusions: This study complements and extends existing research in loneliness and BPD and offers a framework of themes to understand this experience. Future investigative research could build on the themes identified in this study.

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