Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is hallmarked by interpersonal problems. Conflicts with family members are no exception.
Methods: The NEO-Personality Inventory was administered to 25 pairs of patients and their family members. Both completed the questionnaire twice, responding about their own personality traits and responding about personality traits of the other.
Results: Patients and family members agreed on all five of the patient's personality traits. However, patients perceived the family members as being more neurotic, less extraverted and less open than the family members perceived themselves.
Conclusions: Discrepant perceptions of personality traits `may' create different relationship expectations and thus contribute to and intensify interpersonal difficulties.
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