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The conclusions reached through Dr Downey’s research is that there is empirical support for the clinical notion that rage in BPD is substantially rejection-contingent. Go here to listen: Downey conclusion
PHOENIX, Arizona, May 15. SASHA Menu-Courey, once a Canadian National Championship qualifier, tragically took her life on June 17, 2011 after spending years battling a little-known mental disorder.
The scholarship athlete and outstanding student had Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), a disorder that affects approximately 14 million Americans. The main characteristic of this disorder is finding extreme difficulty controlling one’s emotions.
Dr Downey goes on to discuss how Rejection Sensitivity is measured. Not surprising, individuals who have BPD have a high level of rejection sensitivity as a result of the anxious expectation and concern and the resulting sense of threat that is activated by certain situations. Why is this important? Because by understanding the underlying reasons for the anger and rage that gets expressed by their BPD patients, clinicians can become more validating and empathetic in their approach to treatment, and ultimately more effective at treating patients with BPD.
Listen to Dr, Downy here: Downey 2
This is among the most important reserach we have featured on the NEA.BPD blog. NEA recently hosted a Sunday night call-in with 
professor and researcher Geraldine Downey, Ph.D. Vice Provost Downey is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Columbia University, and was formerly chair of the Department. She serves as the Director of Columbia’s Social Relations Laboratory. http://socialrelations.psych.columbia.edu/research
Trained as a developmental psychologist, Dr. Downey has conducted extensive research on rejection sensitivity in the context of interpersonal relationships. Listen to part I of Dr. Downey’s presentation and view the accompanying slide below. Her work reveals very important findings for people with BPD that is the cause of enormous pain and suffering. Listen to Dr. Downey in Part I here: downeyI
Dr Downey’s entire presentation and slides can be found by clicking on the link below: http://www.borderlinepersonalitydisorder.com/resources-news/media-library/call-in-series-archive/
Individuals with BPD know all to well how it feels. Extreme sensitivity coupled with an invalidating environment = extreme reactions and a slow return to baseline. Our poster for May Awareness illustrates what it feels like. This poster was donated and we want to thank everyone who helped put it together.
It is also validating to have an expert like Dr. Miller, Psy.D. explain these symptoms of emotional dysregulation and comforting to know there are professionals who get it. Thank you Dr. Miller.
Dr. Miller explains the dialectic in plain terms that we can all understand and appreciate. Don’t miss the end of this great explanation.
Dr Alec Miller Co-Founder, Cognitive & Behavioral Consultants of Westchester, LLP White Plains, NY
Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Chief, Child and Adolescent Psychology Director, Adolescent Depression and Suicide Program Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine Bronx, NY
More from our LA Conference. Please let us know what you think.
Dr. Aguirre points out how the word borderline was used as a way of insulting people, unlike almost any other mental health issue or personality disorder. And what they really need is radical acceptance.
