Mentalisering hos personer med erfarenhet av borderline personlighetsstörning eller ätstörning.

Sammanfattning: Mentalization is a term that refers to the ability to understand one’s own and others minds as minds. The aim of this study was to examine this ability among people who either are or have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder or eating disorder. The semi-structured Affect Consciousness Interview- Self/Other was used to collect data. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis and six main themes were identified. The results shows that both body and mind was used to identify and experience different emotions and that the ability to modulate and tolerate negative affect depended in part on one´s overall mood. Furthermore the study identifies a difference in how the self-image is used in the process of regulating affect. The participants strived to have a high degree of control over the experiencing and displaying of affect. The results are discussed in relation to earlier research and mentalization theory.