Social problems and disrupted relationships with close, attachment figures are difficulties that are risk factors and/or symptoms of many mental health disorders. Theorists and researchers are increasingly coming to common conclusions: humans are social creatures and when social relationships are disturbed, problems with emotion and self-control arise. Examining disturbance in social functioning and attachment relationships in adolescence, using the brain and behavior as markers of the nature of the disturbance, could facilitate better understanding of how social factors prompt mental health difficulties. Adolescence is particularly important developmental period because brain systems supporting social and emotional processing are rapidly developing at this time. There is, specifically, an urgent need to better understand these difficulties among adolescents with borderline personality disorder (BPD), a severe mental health disorder, characterized by a mix of problems in social and emotional domains. BPD is major public health issue, given its association with extreme misery and debilitation. And yet, the disorder is understudied, particularly within adolescents. The major aims of this project are to (1) examine the relationship between caregiver-attachment relationships and brain and behavioral signs of social functioning and affiliation with peers, (2) determine whether neural and behavioral signs of social dysfunction predict BPD symptoms, and (3) discern whether social functioning and affiliation with peers mediates the relationship between attachment and BPD. Attachment will be measured with an innovative approach to coding caregiver-adolescent conflict interactions. Social functioning will be assessed at 9-months using an fMRI-based Trust Task, which provides indices of trust and collaboration. Connectivity in brain networks, particularly the attachment/affiliation network, during instances of high trust and collaboration within this task will be examined in association with attachment disturbance and BPD symptoms at baseline and over 18-months. Dr. Beeney, the award candidate, is a clinical psychology PhD, seeking to transition to an independent research program focused on social and developmental neuroscience of interpersonal and emotional disturbance and BPD. The above project represents a first step towards this goal. Within the training period, he seeks to train in (1) developmental psychopathology, particularly in relation to adolescent brain development, (2) to learn to analyze the brain as a system of neural networks rather than discreet regions, and (3) learn a life span approach to attachment and train in adolescent development. Drs. Stephanie Stepp and Erika Forbes, both Associate Professors at University of Pittsburgh, will mentor Dr. Beeney. Dr. Stepp is an expert in adolescent development of BPD and Dr. Forbes is an expert in developmental neuroscience of affective disorders. University of Pittsburgh, Department of Psychiatry is a leading research institution, with extensive research support, world-class developmental and neuroimaging researchers, and state-of-the-art brain imaging facilities.

Public Health Relevance

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe disorder characterized by social dysfunction, frequent attempted suicide and self-harm, and difficulty controlling emotions. Individuals with BPD experience intense suffering, social and occupational debilitation, and frequently incur extensive medical costs, making early detection and treatment of the disorder a critical public health concern. The proposed project will provide information about how BPD develops and inform the development of treatments that could target the disorder earlier in life, better focused on the factors that cause and maintain the disorder.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01MH109859-04
Application #
9707877
Study Section
Child Psychopathology and Developmental Disabilities Study Section (CPDD)
Program Officer
Bechtholt, Anita J
Project Start
2016-09-13
Project End
2021-06-30
Budget Start
2019-07-01
Budget End
2020-06-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
004514360
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15260
Beeney, Joseph E; Lazarus, Sophie A; Hallquist, Michael N et al. (2018) Detecting the Presence of a Personality Disorder Using Interpersonal and Self-Dysfunction. J Pers Disord :1-20
Lazarus, Sophie A; Scott, Lori N; Beeney, Joseph E et al. (2018) Borderline personality disorder symptoms and affective responding to perceptions of rejection and acceptance from romantic versus nonromantic partners. Personal Disord 9:197-206
Beeney, Joseph E; Hallquist, Michael N; Clifton, Allan D et al. (2018) Social disadvantage and borderline personality disorder: A study of social networks. Personal Disord 9:62-72
Scott, Lori N; Wright, Aidan G C; Beeney, Joseph E et al. (2017) Borderline personality disorder symptoms and aggression: A within-person process model. J Abnorm Psychol 126:429-440
Girard, Jeffrey M; Wright, Aidan G C; Beeney, Joseph E et al. (2017) Interpersonal problems across levels of the psychopathology hierarchy. Compr Psychiatry 79:53-69
Ross, Jaclyn M; Girard, Jeffrey M; Wright, Aidan G C et al. (2017) Momentary patterns of covariation between specific affects and interpersonal behavior: Linking relationship science and personality assessment. Psychol Assess 29:123-134
Wright, Aidan G C; Stepp, Stephanie D; Scott, Lori N et al. (2017) The effect of pathological narcissism on interpersonal and affective processes in social interactions. J Abnorm Psychol 126:898-910
Scott, Lori N; Zalewski, Maureen; Beeney, Joseph E et al. (2017) Pupillary and affective responses to maternal feedback and the development of borderline personality disorder symptoms. Dev Psychopathol 29:1089-1104
Wright, Aidan G C; Hallquist, Michael N; Stepp, Stephanie D et al. (2016) Modeling Heterogeneity in Momentary Interpersonal and Affective Dynamic Processes in Borderline Personality Disorder. Assessment 23:484-495