Student Name: Aldo Gianola
Department, Institution: Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck
UBEL Pathway: Health and Wellbeing
Supervisor: Dr Joanna Farr
Contact details: agiano01@student.bbk.ac.uk
About Me:
I moved to London from Italy in 2018 to study psychology and make sense of some fragmented studies I had done over the years. Before moving to London, I had a career as a urban planner and architect. I completed my BSc at Birkbeck College in 2022. I am particularly interested in personality disorders and mental health interventions.
My Research:
My work is about Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), a mental condition characterised by emotional lability and turbulent interpersonal connections. For many individuals diagnosed with BPD—more than a third of whom are in long-term romantic relationships— spouses and romantic partners are the main providers of care. The changing perception of relational dynamics that is typical of the disorder, along with its interdependence with BPD features and the role of the partner-caregiver, gives rise to a complex interpersonal context that is yet to be investigated qualitatively. Researching this area is particularly relevant considering that psychotherapy is the first-line treatment for BPD and that this disorder has a significant prevalence in the general population
Impact of My Research:
My work has the potential to impact the way BPD is perceived and treated by healthcare professionals and society at large, facilitating a move from seeing BPD symptoms as specific to the individual towards understanding them as intertwined with personal relationships. The insights gained from this study can help in developing better interventions, support, and resources for people with BPD and their caregiving partners, improving the quality of life for both individuals. Understanding couple interpersonal relationships is valuable for the development of relationship-centred and cost-effective treatment plans that will empower both the person with BPD and their caregiving partners who could represent an important provider of care and stability resulting in a reduced burden on the healthcare system. This study can also contribute to research in psychology and psychiatry, by providing a deeper understanding of the interpersonal dynamics in BPD, which can inform future research.
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