Affective mentalizing in Addictive Borderline Personality: A literature review

• Published in: Encéphale Vol. 42; no. 5; p. 458
• Main Authors: Lecointe, P, Bernoussi, A, Masson, J, Schauder, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 01.10.2016
• Subjects: Affect; Behavior, Addictive - psychology; Behavior, Addictive - therapy; Borderline Personality Disorder - psychology; Borderline Personality Disorder - therapy; Humans; Theory of Mind; Addictive Borderline Personality; Mentalisation affective; Mentalisation; Affective mentalizing; Mentalization; Personnalité limite addictive; Troubles de la personnalité; Addictions; Personality Disorders
• ISSN: 0013-7006
• DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2016.02.001

This literature review concerns affective mentalizing in borderline addictive personality. This concept postulates the group between addictions and borderline personalities may correspond to Personality Disorders (PDs). First, we will present conceptualizations and evaluations of affective mentalizing. The latter refers to one dimension of mentalization, a process by which an individual interprets his/her mental states and those of others. Lecours and Bouchard proposed a hierarchic model: the Élaboration verbale de l'affect (EVA). They also developed an empiric methodology: the Grille de l'élaboration verbale de l'affect (GEVA). The methodological approach of Lecours fulfils the requirements made by Cho-Kain, Gunderson and Luyten, involving a narrower operationalization of the mentalization concept through the evaluation of its dimensions. Conceptualizations and evaluations enabled focus on mentalization psychopathology. Fonagy and Bateman studied this latter in the subjects with PDs, particularly in Borderline Personality Disorders (BPD). We describe mentalization failure, its etiology and consequences in the BPD. Several forms of mentalization psychopathology are identified. Its etiology is largely environmental. Fonagy and Bateman developed the optimum developmental model of mentalization and referred to it to explain etiology of mentalization failure in BPD. Consequences of mentalization failure explicate its functioning. Mentalization may be considered as essential in their comprehension and their care. Research about mentalization of PDs does not integrate addiction as one comorbidity factor. However, Allen, Fonagy and Bateman describe a bidirectional interaction between mentalization failure and addiction. We propose to examine the mentalization of Borderline Addictive Personality. This concept groups addictions and borderline personalities in just one clinical entity other than their links of co-morbidities.