the pathology of borderline personality disorder symptomatology in a nonclinical sample: the role of mental pain, cognitive emotion regulation, self-compassion, and depression

Objectives: patients with borderline personality disorder (bpd) often develop a certain depression that may be accompanied by “mental pain.” a negative self-concept, aversive chronic emotions, and pervasive helplessness characterize mental pain. this research aims to explore the pathology of bpd symptomatology in a nonclinical sample. also, the role of mental pain, cognitive emotion regulation, self-compassion, and depression are assessed.methods: following a correlational study, 300 university students were selected via the multi-stage random cluster sampling method. the study data were collected by the personality assessment inventory-borderline features scale, orbach and mikulincer mental pain questionnaire, cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire, self-compassion scale (scs-sf), and beck depression inventory version 2.results: multiple regression analyses indicated that components of putting into perspective, rumination, loss of control, refocus on planning, catastrophizing, irreversibility, somatic, and isolation (δr2=0.507, p<0.001) significantly predicted bpd symptomatology.discussion: the results support the biosocial model dimensions in an iranian context. in addition, it shows a strong association between mental pain, cognitive emotion regulation, self-compassion, depression, and bpd symptoms.