Weinstein, Shauna (8/14) Mental state identification and childhood trauma: a neglected relationship (Kevin B. Meehan, Ph.D.; Nicole M. Cain, Ph.D.; Nicholas Papouchis, Ph.D.)
Research evaluating mental state identification in individuals with borderline pathology has yielded inconsistent results. These contradictory findings were hypothesized to be driven by independent and moderating effects of childhood trauma (emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional/physical neglect). Additionally, childhood trauma was hypothesized to show a negative response bias. An exploratory hypothesis specified that better accuracy on the RMET would predict less subjective interpersonal distress. Participants were 105 ethnically diverse men and women who exhibited a range of borderline pathology (healthy, subclinical, clinical) measured by criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) for borderline personality disorder. Mental state identification accuracy, reaction time, and response bias were measured using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET). All analyses were conducted using hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses. Greater total childhood trauma and abuse subtypes were associated with enhanced mental state identification accuracy on negative stimuli, when controlling for dissociation (all ps < .05); these findings could not be explained by reaction time or response biases. Total childhood trauma and all subtypes were unrelated to mental state identification accuracy on neutral stimuli. Total childhood trauma and all subtypes did not moderate the relationship between borderline pathology and mental state identification accuracy on negative or neutral stimuli. Total childhood trauma, emotional abuse, and emotional/physical neglect were associated with negative response biases. RMET accuracy was not related to subjective interpersonal distress. These results inform both the understanding and treatment of childhood trauma and borderline pathology.
