1. Objectifs

Intentions :
« The main goal of the present study was to examine and compare the psychosocial functioning of 35 couples including a woman diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) to that of a nonclinical control sample of 35 couples. » (p. 40)

Questions/Hypothèses:
« Five main hypotheses were tested. Compared to partners of couples from the control group, both partners of couples in which women were diagnosed with BPD will evidence: (1) more insecure attachment styles, (2) higher rates of physical and psychological violence, (3) less mutual communication and more demand-withdraw patterns, (4) and lower levels of relationship satisfaction. » (p. 43)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
L’étude se base sur un échantillon de 35 couples dont la femme présente un trouble de la personnalité limite (TPL) et sur un groupe contrôle de 35 couples.

Instruments:
- Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, axis II (SCID-II; First, Spitzer, Gibbon, Williams & Benjamin, 1997)
- Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire (ECR; Brennan, Clark & Shaver, 1998)
- Conflict Tactic Scale (CTS-2; Straus, Hamby, Boney-McCoy & Sugarman, 1996)
- Communication Pattern Questionnaire (CPQ; Christensen, 1987)
- Psychiatric Symptom Inventory (PSI-14; Ilfeld, 1978)
- Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS-8; Spanier, 1976)

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse de contenu
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

« The main goal of the present study was to examine and compare the psychosocial functioning of 35 couples including a woman diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) to that of a nonclinical control sample of 35 couples. The BPD status of women from the clinical group and the prevalence of personality disorder in their partner were ascertained through the SCID-II. Participants completed self-report measures of couple functioning. A majority of couples in which the woman suffered from BPD (68.7%) evidenced frequent episodes of break ups and reconciliations and, over an 18-month period, nearly 30% of these couples dissolved their relationship. Close to half of the men involved in a romantic relationship with a woman suffering from BPD met criteria for one personality disorder or more. As compared to nonclinical couples, clinical couples showed lower marital satisfaction, higher attachment insecurity, more demand / withdraw communication problems, and higher levels of violence. » (p. 40)