Search Results (56)

Background: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe psychiatric condition characterised by emotional instability, impulsivity, interpersonal dysfunction, and self-injurious behaviours. Despite growing clinical interest, the neuropsychological mechanisms underlying these symptoms are still not fully understood. This review aims to summarise findings from neuroimaging, psychophysiological, and neurodevelopmental studies in order to clarify the neurobiological and physiological basis of BPD, with a particular focus on emotional dysregulation and implications for the treatment of adolescents. Methods: A narrative review was conducted, integrating results from longitudinal neurodevelopmental studies, functional and structural neuroimaging research (e.g. FMRI and PET), and psychophysiological assessments (e.g., heart rate variability and cortisol reactivity). Studies were selected based on their contribution to understanding the neural correlates of BPD symptom dimensions, particularly emotion dysregulation, impulsivity, interpersonal dysfunction, and self-harm. Results: Findings suggest that early reductions in amygdala volume, as early as age 13 predict later BPD symptoms. Hyperactivity of the amygdala, combined with hypoactivity in the prefrontal cortex, underlies deficits in emotion regulation. Orbitofrontal abnormalities correlate with impulsivity, while disruptions in the default mode network and oxytocin signaling are related to interpersonal dysfunction. Self-injurious behaviour appears to serve a neuropsychological function in regulating emotional pain and trauma-related arousal. This is linked to disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and structural brain alterations. The Unified Protocol for Adolescents (UP-A) was more effective to Mentalization-Based Therapy for Adolescents (MBT-A) at reducing emotional dysregulation compared, though challenges in treating identity disturbance and relational difficulties remain. Discussion: The reviewed evidence suggests that BPD has its in early neurodevelopmental vulnerability and is sustained by maladaptive neurophysiological processes. Emotional dysregulation emerges as a central transdiagnostic mechanism. Self-harm may serve as a strategy for regulating emotions in response to trauma-related neural dysregulation. These findings advocate for the integration of neuroscience into psychotherapeutic practice, including the application of neuromodulation techniques and psychophysiological monitoring. Conclusions: A comprehensive understanding of BPD requires a neuropsychologically informed framework. Personalised treatment approaches combining pharmacotherapy, brain-based interventions, and developmentally adapted psychotherapies—particularly DBT, psychodynamic therapy, and trauma-informed care—are essential. Future research should prioritise interdisciplinary, longitudinal studies to further bridge the gap between neurobiological findings and clinical innovation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex psychiatric condition marked by emotional dysregulation, interpersonal instability, and impulsivity. Despite the advances in psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, many patients show a partial or unstable response. Recent research suggests that oxytocin, a neuropeptide involved in social cognition and emotional regulation, may offer novel therapeutic avenues. Methods: We systematically synthesize evidence from PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Google Scholar on oxytocin’s role in BPD, prioritizing studies on neurobiology, emotion regulation, clinical interventions, and adjunctive therapy models. Thirty studies were included and critically appraised using PRISMA and Cochrane’s tools. Due to methodological heterogeneity, no meta-analysis was conducted; instead, the findings were integrated through a narrative synthesis approach. Results: Evidence supports oxytocin’s modulatory effects on amygdala reactivity, prefrontal–limbic connectivity, and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis function. Intranasal oxytocin appears beneficial for emotional regulation and interpersonal sensitivity, particularly in individuals with early trauma. The reported effect sizes ranged from small (Cohen’s d ≈ 0.40) to large (d ≈ 0.83), though some trials reported null or adverse effects, such as increased hypermentalization. Heterogeneous responses were influenced by factors such as sex, trauma history, and OXTR gene variants. Conclusions: Although intranasal oxytocin shows promise in modulating core neurobiological systems implicated in BPD and enhancing emotion regulation and social cognition, its clinical effects remain variable and context-dependent. The evidence supports cautious exploration of oxytocin as an adjunct to psychotherapeutic interventions rather than as a standalone treatment. Future research should focus on biomarker-informed, stratified trials that account for trauma history, genetic variation, and sex differences to clarify its therapeutic potential. Full article

China’s marketization refers to the systemic reform process of transitioning from a planned economy to a market economy, which has significantly contributed to the country’s economic development. However, the interest-oriented nature of marketization may also somewhat erode social morality. Given that empathy is the basis of morality and prosocial behavior, the present study produced a cross-temporal meta-analysis of 89 studies using the Chinese version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index as a measuring instrument and outlined the empathy changes among 48,400 Chinese college students from 2009 to 2019. Then, this study tested the conjecture that empathy is weakening in marketization process. The results reveal that Chinese college students’ empathy level declined over time and was negatively correlated with the marketization level. This finding contributes to understanding the relationship between the marketization reform and moral psychology change. Full article

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) represent one of the most critical factors contributing to the manifestation of psychiatric disorders later in life. Furthermore, such experiences are often associated with deficits in interpersonal relationships, manifesting as mistrust and violent behaviors, and are indicative of a fragmented personality. This study aimed to analyze the correlative relationships between personality deficits influenced by ACEs and the expression of reactive and appetitive aggression using self-report questionnaires in 53 male forensic psychiatric patients with a drug dependency background detained under §64 of the German Criminal Code between 2019 and 2022. Instruments included the Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnosis Structure Questionnaire (OPD-SF), the Maltreatment and Abuse Chronology of Exposure Scale–German Version (KERF), and the Appetitive and Facilitative Aggression Scale (AFAS). Specifically, the OPD-SF used the following subscales: self-perception, self-regulation, the regulation of object relations, emotional communication inward/outward, internal/external attachment, and total score. The results demonstrate a significant relationship between childhood traumatic experiences, personality structure, attachment capacity, self-perception, and regulation and the expression of both reactive and appetitive aggression. While the association with reactive aggression is intuitively plausible, the findings notably reveal that the propensity to derive pleasure from violence is also associated with personality deficits caused by adverse childhood experiences. These findings have important implications for the treatment of offenders with personality disorders and should be considered in therapeutic interventions. Full article

Background: Empathy and assertiveness are two essential soft skills for health professionals such as nurses or physiotherapists. Both professions are characterised by their contribution to preserving and improving health and human care, and for their vocation of service. One of the achievements of the training is the voluntary, conscious, and individually inspired career choice. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the empathy, assertiveness, and care vocational levels among undergraduate students enrolled in Nursing and Physiotherapy Degree programmes and to investigate the relationship between these soft skills and the care vocation. Methods: A cross-sectional study of nursing and physiotherapy students was conducted in the 2023/2024 academic year. The Interpersonal Reactivity Index scales for empathy, the Rathus test for assertiveness, and the “Vocation of Service for Human Care” questionnaire were used as study tools. Finally, 226 nursing and physiotherapy students participated after providing informed consent, excluding those on national or international exchange programmes. Results: The empathy, assertiveness, and vocation of service for human care of the students was found to be acceptable. Significant differences were observed according to the gender variable or career among the students, with female students presenting better results in empathy subscales or vocation (p < 0.05). Students who were working or had clinical experience in other professions scored lower on the empathy personal distress subscale (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Both nursing and physiotherapy students demonstrate satisfactory levels of empathy, assertiveness, and vocation for human care. However, gender and previous work experience notably influence these scores. It would be beneficial to conduct long-term studies with educational interventions to train and develop empathy, assertiveness, and vocation for human care. Full article

Background: Motor skills in early and middle childhood are essential for physical play, social interactions, and academic development. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit atypical sensory responses, which can impact self-care and other developmental areas. This study explores the impact of sensory and motor rehabilitation using a Motor Sensory Room to stimulate motor development in children with ASD. Methods: Twenty-five children with ASD, preschool and school-aged (2–10 years), were divided into three groups based on the DSM-5 severity levels. The PEP-3 scale was used to assess cognitive, language, motor, emotional, social, and behavioral development. Ten children underwent a 3-month Motor Sensory Room intervention, and data were collected longitudinally. A control group of ten children, matched in age, sex, and diagnosis, did not receive the intervention. A 12-month follow-up is planned for all participants. Results: Children exhibited diverse profiles. Type B subjects displayed more severe symptoms, while Type A showed milder symptoms with better language and interpersonal skills. After the 3-month intervention, improvements were noted in several PEP-3 areas. For sensory levels (hypo-reactivity), the percentage of individuals at medium levels increased from 44% to 50%. For hyper-reactivity, the percentage at medium levels rose from 30% to 40%. Motor skills improved, with the percentage of individuals with high motor abilities rising from 20% to 25%. Relational behaviors also saw gains, with an increase from 50% to 55% in medium-level behaviors. The experimental group demonstrated better outcomes compared to the control group, particularly in sensory and motor skills. Conclusions: Preliminary findings suggest that sensory and motor training in a Motor Sensory Room improves sensory integration, motor coordination, and social interaction in children with ASD. Further research is needed to confirm long-term benefits. Full article

Students majoring in physical education are the main source of physical education teachers in Chinese schools, and they are the main body in achieving the function of physical education in schools. The improvement of their altruistic behavior helps enhance the educational literacy of outstanding physical education teachers. This study conducted a questionnaire survey on 310 students majoring in physical education from 5 universities in 5 selected regions using the General Interpersonal Communication Objective Scale, Interpersonal Reactivity Index-C, the “responsibility” subscale of the Big Five Inventory Questionnaire, and the Altruistic Behavior of College Students questionnaire. We performed correlation analysis, mediation effect analysis, and moderation effect analysis on the data using SPSS 24.0 and MPLUS 7.4. Empathy partially mediates 30% of the total effect between interpersonal relationships and altruistic behavior; social responsibility has a moderating effect on empathy and altruistic behavior, with higher levels of responsibility having a greater moderating effect. Interpersonal relationships, empathy, and a sense of responsibility affect the current, recent, and long-term states of altruistic behavior, respectively. To improve students’ altruistic behavior throughout the entire process, schools should develop training systems specifically for interpersonal relationships, empathy, and social responsibility. Full article

The social skills of assertiveness and empathy are valuable and useful in our daily lives, influencing the quality of our interactions and relationships. This fact underscores the need for research that examines the various factors influencing these constructs. The present study addressed gender disparities in the social skills of assertiveness and empathy in a sample of students from the University of Seville. Its objectives were to identify the gender differences in the social skills of assertiveness and empathy in university students and identify the obstacles gender posed to assertiveness and empathy. For this purpose, an exploratory study was conducted with 116 students, 56% women and 44% men. A Google questionnaire was used to collect various sociodemographic variables, and the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule (Ras, 1973), the Spanish adaptation of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI; Davis, 1980), and a questionnaire concerning students’ beliefs (Colás-Bravo y Villaciervos-Moreno, 2007) were applied. The results yielded no gender differences in the development of students’ levels of assertiveness and empathy. However, when analyzing the external factors, “socioeconomic level” and “religion” stood out. The findings of this work have relevant implications for the promotion of gender equality and the formation of public policies. Studies in this field should be extended to different educational contexts. Full article

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by an unstable sense of self and identity, emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, and disturbed interpersonal relationships. This narrative review examines the interplay between dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system, metabolic changes, and cardiovascular risk in BPD. Altered heart rate variability (HRV), reflecting the dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system, is associated with some BPD core symptoms, such as emotional instability and impulsivity. Dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, often stemming from early trauma, contributes to chronic inflammation and elevated allostatic load, which further increases cardiovascular risk. Metabolic dysfunctions in BPD, such as elevated body mass index (BMI), high blood pressure, and inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP), exacerbate these risks. Speckle-tracking echocardiography, particularly global longitudinal strain (GLS) and biomarkers such as homocysteine and epicardial fat, could be considered early predictors of cardiovascular events in individuals with BPD. Chronic stress, inflammation, and maladaptive stress responses further heighten cardiovascular vulnerability, potentially accelerating biological aging and cognitive decline. A literature search covering the period from 2014 to 2024 on PubMed identified 189 studies on this topic, of which 37 articles were deemed eligible for this review. These included cross-sectional, longitudinal, case–control, randomised controlled trials (RCTs), reviews, and meta-analysis designs, with sample sizes ranging from 14 to 5969 participants. The main limitations were that only one database was searched, the time of publications was limited, non-English manuscripts were excluded, and the quality of each paper was not commented on. This narrative review aims to provide an overview of recent evidence obtained on this topic, pointing out a direction for future research. Full article

(1) Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a pervasive issue, particularly among adolescents. Its prevalence is still high despite intervention efforts, especially for younger generations. Empathy and sexism are factors linked with IPV that have shown gender differences. This study focuses on how gender moderates the association of empathy and sexist attitudes among adolescents in Spain; (2) Methods: A two-stage stratified cluster sampling method for collecting data from 516 adolescents (219 boys, 297 girls) aged 12–18 years was used. Participants completed the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Hierarchical multiple regression analyzed the moderating role of gender in the relation between empathy and ambivalent sexism; (3) Results: Boys exhibited higher sexism levels than girls. Perspective taking negatively predicted hostile sexism. Empathic concern positively predicted hostile and benevolent sexism. Significant gender-specific patterns emerged: more empathic concern was linked with increased hostile sexism in boys; higher perspective taking was linked with increased benevolent sexism in boys, but was lower in girls; (4) Conclusions: There is a complex interplay among empathy, gender, and sexism, suggesting that IPV prevention programs should be tailored differently for boys and girls by considering broader socio-political contexts, addressing traditional gender norms, and promoting gender equality. Full article

The occupational environment may affect one’s psychophysical health by leveraging both external workplace stressors and individual psychological responses. We developed a comprehensive questionnaire to assess occupational stress among postgraduate medical trainees, investigating both situational and personal aspects. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify the constructs captured by the questionnaire, and reliability was assessed by estimating Cronbach’s alpha. Construct-specific scores were computed, and their correlation with established pre-validated scales (criterion validation) was assessed. Four factors—“stress”, “coping”, “empathy”, and “trauma”—explained 50% of data variability and demonstrated satisfactory overall internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.76). Significant correlations were found between the “stress” score and the “emotional exhaustion” component of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) (r = −0.76), the “coping” score and the “positive attitudes” component of the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (COPE) (r = 0.46), and the “empathy” score with the “empathic concern” (r = 0.52), “fantasy” (r = 0.41), and “perspective taking” (r = 0.45) components of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). No significant differences in scores were found in terms of gender or medical specialization. This study suggests that the SCOPE questionnaire may be a promising tool for assessing workplace stress and psychological responses among medical residents. Full article

According to the literature, recent world events seem to play a significant influence in the acquisition and upgrowth of empathy and socio-emotional competencies (SEC), especially in adolescents. In this study we sought to assess the level of socio-emotional competencies and interpersonal reactivity of Portuguese adolescents in today’s context and analyze differences due to sex, relationship status, residence, and educational level on the dimensions of inter-personal reactivity and socio-emotional competencies. Participants were 230 adolescents of both sexes, living in Portugal, with ages between 16 and 18 years old, mostly female, with a secondary educational level, living in an urban area, and not in a relationship. An online questionnaire was applied using the Social and Emotional Competencies (SEC-Q) scale and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). The results were that adolescents had an above-average global interpersonal reactivity, with empathic concern and perspective-taking presenting the higher values. Adolescents showed a medium-high average level of SEC, with the highest domains being self-awareness, social awareness, and pro-social behavior. Girls showed significantly more interpersonal reactivity in empathic concern, personal distress, and fantasy, and boys presented more self-awareness. As for the relationship status, adolescents not in a relationship manifested more personal distress, while those in a relationship presented higher values in all dimensions of SEC. Neither residence, nor educational level, presented significant main effects. These results can contribute to thinking about youth protection policies and designing more appropriate interventions to promote well-being in this crucial period of life, especially in times of change. Full article

Background: In stressful situations, to overcome unpleasant emotions, individuals try to manage stress through emotion regulation strategies such as cognitive reappraisal, interoception, and mindfulness. Method: 26 healthy adults underwent a modified version of the Trier Social Stress Test (named the Social Stress Test, SST) while their electrophysiological (EEG) activity was monitored. Participants also completed self-report questionnaires prior to this, including the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), Emotional Regulation of Others and Self (EROS), and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Three brain regions of interest (ROIs) were considered in the EEG data processing: frontal, temporo-central, and parieto-occipital. Correlational analyses were performed between psychometric scales and EEG band power spectral values for each ROI. Results: The results showed positive correlations between interoceptive awareness, mindfulness, and high-frequency EEG bands (beta, alpha, gamma) over frontal ROI, indicating enhanced cognitive processing and emotional regulation. Conversely, emotion regulation and empathy measures correlated positively with low-frequency EEG bands (delta, theta), associated with improved social cognition and top-down regulatory processes. Conclusions: These findings suggest that EEG correlations of the stress response are connected to emotion regulation mechanisms, emphasizing the importance of body state awareness in managing stress and emotions for overall well-being and quality of life. Full article

Burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS), also referred to as compassion fatigue, are undeniable negative consequences experienced by healthcare professionals when working with patients. As frontline healthcare professionals are essential to communities, it is crucial to understand their mental health and how they cope with negative psychological responses. This study investigated the relationships between burnout, STS, compassion satisfaction, dispositional empathy, and stress management among Japanese healthcare professionals and students taking care of patients in clinical practice. The participants were 506 Japanese healthcare professionals and students (doctors, nurses, medical students, and nursing students) affiliated with Japanese Ministry of Defense Hospitals. The data were collected from March 2020 to May 2021. We assessed burnout, STS, and compassion satisfaction using the Professional Quality of Life Scale, dispositional empathy using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and coping with stress using the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief-COPE). Exploratory factor analysis of the Brief-COPE yielded three factors: active coping; support-seeking; and indirect coping. Personal distress, a self-oriented emotional empathy index, was related to higher burnout and STS scores and lower compassion satisfaction. Empathic concern, an other-oriented emotional empathy index, was associated with lower burnout and higher compassion satisfaction. Active coping strategies were associated with lower burnout and higher compassion satisfaction, whereas indirect coping strategies were associated with higher burnout and STS scores. In a comparison of empathy in professional categories, nurses presented higher personal distress than nursing students, and medical doctors showed lower fantasy tendencies than medical students. These results imply the complex relationships between empathy, coping strategies, and psychological responses among healthcare professionals. Further longitudinal study is needed to explore these complex relationships and to develop more precise and effective psycho-educational interventions to prevent burnout and STS. Full article

The belief in online news has become a topical issue. Previous studies demonstrated the role emotion plays in fake news vulnerability. However, few studies have explored the effect of empathy on online news belief. This study investigated the relationship between trait empathy, state empathy, belief in online news, and the potential moderating effect of news type. One hundred and forty undergraduates evaluated 50 online news pieces (25 real, 25 fake) regarding their belief, state empathy, valence, arousal, and familiarity. Trait empathy data were collected using the Chinese version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. State empathy was positively correlated with affective empathy in trait empathy and believability, and affective empathy was positively correlated with believability. The influence of affective empathy on news belief was partially mediated by state empathy and regulated by news type (fake, real). We discuss the influence of empathy on online news belief and its internal processes. This study shares some unique insights for researchers, practitioners, social media users, and social media platform providers. Full article