Loved Ones Research Study

Loved Ones Study

Understanding the experiences of loved ones with borderline personality disorder: an ecological momentary assessment study

We are no longer recruiting new participants for this study.

Do you self-harm or have suicidal thoughts and urges? You may be eligible to be in a treatment research study at York University. We are looking for individuals between the ages of 18 and 70 who have a romantic partner, and both partners are able and willing to: Participate in an ongoing treatment study for between 6 and 12 weeks, Complete questionnaires about emotions, thought, and behaviours, Complete a structured interview that will assess your emotional and psychiatric history, Attend couple therapy sessions with their partner, Complete a brief measure of their feelings every day on their smart phone for 5 weeks. Participants will be paid up to $240 for their participation. Interested participants should contact tuliplab@yorku.ca. During periods of social distancing, this study will take place virtually through secure videoconferencing.

This research study aims to understand the experiences of individuals who are close to someone who might have Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) or BPD symptoms. BPD is a serious mental health disorder which is characterized by emotion dysregulation, interpersonal problems, impulsivity, and life-threatening behaviour (APA, 2013). Existing research examines the experiences of those with BPD but lacks attention regarding the experiences of those who are close to them. This study aims to address this gap by investigating how individuals close to someone with BPD are affected by BPD symptoms and how individuals with BPD are affected by those who are close to them.