Hawksdale, Hannah; (2024) Mentalizing of People Diagnosed With Borderline Personality Disorder. Doctoral thesis (D.Clin.Psy), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

This thesis examines the challenges and complexity in the measurement of mentalizing, and the possible role of mentalizing in the development and maintenance of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). In part 1, a framework for assessing the construct validity of mentalizing measures was developed and piloted. This includes the importance of the relational context in which mentalizing occurs and a hierarchical structure of dimensions. A systematic scoping review of validated, text-based, English-language, general population measures of mentalizing was conducted. Measures identified by the review were rated using the framework to assess and compare construct validity. Part 2 investigates associations between BPD symptoms, BPD service use, childhood trauma, and three components of mentalizing: self-other differentiation, hypermentalizing, and mentalizing in an attachment (relational) context. Hypothesised associations posited by the mentalization-based model of BPD are outlined and tested using data collected from a previous study. This included 96 Adult Attachment Interviews, which were coded for this study using the Reflective Functioning Scale. Part 3 presents the impact of the context and theoretical perspective of both the researcher and measurement tools and processes on the work, inviting critical application of mentalizing theory to the research process.

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