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Influence of Core Affect in the Differential Efficacy of a Personality Disorder Intervention Program

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 February 2017

Juan M. Ramos ,
Juan M. Sendra ,
Aintzane Sánchez  and
Ana Mena
Juan M. Ramos*
Affiliation:
Hospital Dr. R. Lafora (Spain)
Juan M. Sendra
Affiliation:
Hospital Dr. R. Lafora (Spain)
Aintzane Sánchez
Affiliation:
Hospital Dr. R. Lafora (Spain)
Ana Mena
Affiliation:
Hospital Dr. R. Lafora (Spain)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Juan M. Ramos. Hospital Dr. R. Lafora. Ctra. Colmenar Viejo, Km. 13, 800. 28049. Madrid (Spain). E-mail: jmramos@cop.es
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Abstract

The usual emotional experience of the person (affective style) is an influential factor in therapeutic assimilation. Based on a dynamic model of affect shaped dimensionally by the valence and arousal axes (core affect) that fluctuate over time according to the specific context of the individual, its relationship with different variables was investigated and the changes after a 6-month intervention in a specialized hospital unit (N = 103) were observed. The orthogonal structure of core-affect was confirmed. Emotional valence appeared to be positively related to social skills (r = .375; p < .01) and self-esteem (r = .491; p < .01) and negatively to depressive symptoms (r = –.631; p < .01), general disturbance (r = –.395; p < .01) and suicidality (r = –.490; p < .01). Emotional arousal is associated with impulsivity (r = .345; p < .01). The group of patients with an affective style characterized by negative valence and low arousal core-affect gained less therapeutic benefit compared to those with positive valence core-affect (p < .05). Throughout the treatment, valence became more positive (d = .26; IC 95%: 1.9 – 7.2; p = .001), arousal increased (d = .23; IC 95%: 0.2 – 1.7; p = .015) and variability decreased (d = –.44; IC 95%: (–2.9) – (–1.1); p = .001). Changes in the core-affect are related to therapeutic improvement. Adjusting expectations of change can reduce therapeutic frustration, which is as common as it is harmful in the treatment of severe personality disorders.

Keywords

emotionnegative affectpersonality disordertherapy
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 20 , 2017 , E5
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2017 

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