Body esteem and its relationship with early maladaptive schemas in borderline personality disorder and major depression

Abstract

Abstract Background: The disruption of body esteem is associated with distress and may be linked to psychiatric disorders such as Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and Major Depression (MD). Existing studies have primarily focused on body satisfaction as a unified concept, without delving into specific body areas or functions. Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMSs) are observed in individuals with BPD and MD. So far little is known about their potential influence on body esteem, particularly within the context of MD or BPD. This study aims to investigate the satisfaction levels pertaining to different body areas and the influence of EMSs on body esteem BPD patients and MD patients. Methods: Our study included 31 patients diagnosed with BPD (25 women), 27 diagnosed with MD (17 women) and 25 healthy individuals (HC, 16 women) (Mage was between 29 and 33 for each groups). The SCID-5-PD and MINI was used to assess psychiatric disorders. Body esteem was measured by using an extended version of Body Esteem Scale. EMSs were measured by using Young Schema Questionnaire. Short Form 2. Results: Regarding EMS domains and general body esteem, all groups differed significantly from each other, except in Overvigilance, where BPD differed from MD and HC. Regarding body functions, BPD group differed from MD and HC groups. For the head, BPD patients and HCs differed from each other. Regarding the upper body HCs differed from the psychiatric patients. Following the identification of schema domains and their correlation with body variables, significant findings emerge within the BPD and MD groups. In the BPD group, Enmeshment exhibits a notable inverse association with general body esteem and body functions. Conversely, within the MD group, Entitlement displays a marked positive correlation with general body esteem. Furthermore, Vulnerability to Harm in the BPD group and Failure to Achieve in the MD group potentially contribute to disturbances in body esteem. Conclusions: Our study suggests that both BPD and MD patients experience disturbances in body esteem. Specifically, in patients with BPD, perceptions of body functions are significantly affected. Furthermore, within both disorders, specific EMSs can be identified, which are related to impairments in body esteem.