O papel do Trauma Infantil e Empatia em Doentes Borderline: Estudo numa Amostra Clínica

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between childhood trauma and empathy in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD), aiming to understand how different traumatic experiences in childhood affect empathy in these populations. Using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF) to assess childhood trauma and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) to assess empathy, the study involved 74 patients diagnosed with BPD at the psychiatry service of the University Hospital Center of São João. Results reveal significant associations between various types of childhood traumas and BPD symptoms. However, no correlation was found between negative childhood experiences and empathic capacity. Further studies are needed to confirm the absence of a significant correlation between childhood trauma and changes in empathy in individuals with borderline personality.